Vancouver, April 28, 2025 – Tragedy struck the city of Vancouver during a Filipino heritage street festival on Saturday night when a car plowed into a crowd, killing 11 people and injuring dozens more. The death toll has risen from the initial count of nine, according to a report by CNN.
Festival attendees immediately helped subdue the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo, who reportedly has a documented history of mental health-related encounters with law enforcement. Vancouver Police announced late Sunday that Lo has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, with further charges expected as the investigation proceeds.
Authorities confirmed that the victims’ ages ranged from five to 65 years old. Vancouver Police interim chief Steve Rai, speaking at a press conference on Sunday, said, “Dozens more are injured, some critically, and some have not yet been identified.”
The fatal incident occurred during the Lapu Lapu Festival, an annual event organized by British Columbia’s Filipino community to celebrate cultural heritage and commemorate Lapu Lapu, a Filipino hero who resisted Spanish colonization.
In the aftermath, Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. Sharing a post on X, Carney wrote, “I spoke with Mayor Sim this afternoon following the attack at last night’s Lapu Lapu festival. I offered my condolences and the federal government’s full support. We will be there for the people of Vancouver and the Filipino-Canadian community as you heal from this tragedy.”
International leaders also voiced their support. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy conveyed his condolences, writing, “Heartbreaking tragedy at Vancouver’s Filipino festival, where a man drove a car into the crowd, killing and injuring innocent people. On this sad day, Ukrainians deeply share the pain of Canadians, Vancouver residents, and the Canadian Filipino community.”
The tragedy has shaken Vancouver, a city known for its multicultural vibrancy. The investigation into the motive behind the attack is ongoing, and authorities have heightened security measures at public gatherings across the city.
