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VANCOUVER, British Columbia — What began as a joyous celebration of Filipino
culture turned into a scene of horror Saturday night when a driver plowed a black
Audi SUV into a crowd of festivalgoers, killing at least 11 people—including a 5-
year-old child—and injuring dozens more. Authorities have identified the suspect
as Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, who was apprehended at the scene and remains in custody.
The attack unfolded around 8 p.m. at the Lapu Lapu Festival, an annual event
honoring Datu Lapu Lapu, the Indigenous leader who resisted Spanish
colonization. The festival, held in Vancouver’s bustling downtown district, had just
concluded a headline performance by Apl.de.ap, the Filipino American rapper and
founding member of the Black Eyed Peas.
"All of a Sudden, Boom": Eyewitnesses Describe Chaos
At first, witnesses said, the SUV’s presence didn’t raise alarms.
“He was going slow, so I thought maybe it was a vendor loading up,” said Kris
Pangilinan, a clothing merchant whose booth was near the attack. “Then I heard
the engine rev, and boom—he hit dozens of people.”
The vehicle accelerated through the crowd, striking pedestrians lined up at food
trucks and browsing artisan stalls. Witnesses described bodies flying, screams
filling the air, and people scrambling for safety.
“He sideswiped someone near the vendors, then just kept going,” Pangilinan said.
After the rampage, Lo allegedly attempted to flee but was tackled by bystanders
before police arrived.
“He gets out of the car, takes off, and I start running toward him,” said Jacob
Bureros, a hip-hop artist who had performed earlier. “Three of us surrounded the
guy, screaming at him.” A security guard and event organizer intervened,
preventing the crowd from retaliating.
Suspect Had Mental Health History, Police Say
Authorities have ruled out terrorism but confirmed Lo had prior encounters with
law enforcement over mental health concerns.
“We had substantive contact with him before,” said Interim Police Chief Steve Rai,
declining to elaborate on a possible motive. However, British Columbia Premier
David Eby stated the attack was intentional.
Prime Minister Mark Carney assured the public there was no ongoing threat, calling
the incident a “car-ramming attack” and expressing solidarity with the Filipino
community.
A Community in Mourning
The tragedy has devastated Vancouver’s Filipino Canadian community, one of the
largest in Canada.
“I don’t think my phone buzzed that much my entire life,” said R.J. Aquino, chair of
the Filipino Canadian Community and Cultural Society of B.C., describing frantic
calls to locate loved ones.
Mable Elmore, a provincial lawmaker and festival organizer, fought back tears at a
press conference. “It was a beautiful day for a celebration,” she said. “We are in
incredible pain, but we will show resilience.”
Political Response: Campaigns Paused, Condolences Pour In
The attack disrupted the final day of Canada’s federal election campaign. Carney
canceled rallies to meet with mourners, while Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre
visited a Filipino church in Toronto.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. released a statement, saying he was
“completely shattered” and extended condolences to victims’ families.
A Grim History of Vehicle Attacks in Canada
This marks Canada’s deadliest vehicle attack since 2018, when a man killed 11
pedestrians with a rental van in Toronto. In 2021, a far-right extremist murdered a
Muslim family in London, Ontario, in a racially motivated truck ramming.
While Canadian authorities have since used barriers like dump trucks to protect
large events, no such measures were in place at the festival.
"Why Us?": A Community Seeks Answers
As vigils were held across Vancouver, Pangilinan reflected on the senseless
violence.
“Why would they harm such a beautiful community?” he asked. “This is something
I’ll live with forever.”
