Tragedy struck Vancouver on Saturday night when a vehicle slammed into a crowd celebrating the Lapu Lapu Day festival, killing 11 people and injuring dozens more in one of the city’s darkest moments.
Authorities have ruled out terrorism as a motive. Instead, Vancouver Police say the suspect, 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo, has a significant history of mental health issues.
“While I’m not prepared to speak about the potential motive, I can now say with confidence that the evidence in this case does not lead us to believe this was an act of terrorism,” Interim Police Chief Steve Rai said during a sombre press conference on Sunday. “This is the darkest day in our city’s history.”
Lo, who was subdued by bystanders before being taken into custody, faces eight counts of second-degree murder, with more charges expected in the coming days. Video from the scene showed him leaning against a chain-link fence, surrounded by a furious crowd, apologising as he held his head in his hands.
Police say the black SUV driven by Lo entered the crowded street at approximately 8:14 p.m. local time, leaving devastation in its path. Shocking videos and photographs posted to social media showed victims and debris strewn across a long stretch of road.
Eyewitness James Cruzat, a local business owner attending the festival, described the chaos:
“We heard a revving engine, then a loud bang. At first, I thought it might be gunfire,” Cruzat said. “We saw people crying, running, and screaming for help. Bodies were everywhere, some lifeless, some injured. It was heartbreaking, something you normally only see in movies. You feel helpless. All you can do is pray.”
The Lapu Lapu Day festival, celebrating Filipino heritage, was being held in a South
neighbourhood. In the aftermath, a battered black SUV with a crumpled front end was seen abandoned at the scene.
Mayor Kenneth Sim called the incident “senseless” and pledged the city would release further updates as the investigation unfolds.
Rai warned that the death toll may continue to rise in the coming days as victims fight for their lives in hospitals across the city.
“This was a heartbreaking, senseless act of violence,” Rai said. “We grieve with our community.”
