Vancouver’s Filipino community mourns 11 dead after SUV slams into crowd

Eleven people were killed and more than two dozen injured when an Audi SUV sped through a Filipino cultural street festival in the Sunset neighbourhood on the evening of April 26, police said. Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder; prosecutors expect more counts once all victims, who range in age from five to 65, are formally identified.

“We want to tell everybody that we’re grieving, and we see and hear the support from around the world,” said RJ Aquino, chair of advocacy group Filipino BC, as vigils began across the province’s 170,000-strong Filipino community.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “devastated” by the “horrific” incident, adding, “Last night, families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, a son or a daughter. Those families are living every family’s nightmare.”

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in a statement that he was “shattered to hear about the terrible incident” and extended his “deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and to the strong and thriving Filipino community in Canada,” vowing that “the lives lost will not be forgotten.”

The tragedy struck as crowds were dispersing from the provincially recognized Lapu Lapu Day celebration, which honours 16th-century Filipino hero Datu Lapu-Lapu. According to Interim Chief Constable Steve Rai, festival-goers tackled the driver before officers arrived and that investigators have found no evidence of terrorism.

Police describe Lo as having a significant history of mental-health interactions but say no evidence of terrorism has emerged. Premier David Eby has ordered a review of public-event security and mental-health interventions, pledging to “take the action that’s necessary to ensure this can’t happen again” once investigators determine how the suspect “came to take the horrific action that he did.”

Police continue to collect witness statements and urge anyone with photos or video to upload them for investigators. A 24-hour assistance centre and digital evidence portal have been opened for relatives and witnesses.