A jubilant Filipino-Canadian cultural festival in Vancouver was shattered Saturday evening when a black Audi SUV plowed into a crowd of festivalgoers, killing at least 11 and injuring dozens more. The driver, identified as 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo, has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, with more charges expected. The motive remains unclear, though police say Lo has a history of reckless driving and assault. The attack has left the city in shock and the Filipino community mourning.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — It was just after sunset on Saturday evening when the hum of music and laughter filled the warm spring air of downtown Vancouver. Families strolled between brightly lit food trucks offering lumpia and halo-halo, teenagers clustered around jewelry and handmade crafts, and a small stage still buzzed from the high-energy performance by Apl.de.ap, the renowned Filipino American rapper and co-founder of the Black Eyed Peas.
The Lapu Lapu Festival, named after the Filipino hero who resisted Spanish colonization, was meant to be a jubilant celebration of culture and resilience.
Instead, it became the scene of unimaginable horror. At first, witnesses said, no one gave much thought to the black Audi SUV that nudged its way around a portable barrier and slowly crept onto the pedestrian-only festival grounds on Robson Street. Perhaps it was a vendor loading equipment, some thought. But as the vehicle picked up speed, terror unfurled across the packed thoroughfare.
“He sideswiped someone where the vendors are,” recalled Kris Pangilinan, a clothing vendor who watched in horror from behind his booth. “Then, all of a sudden, I hear the exhaust roar and the engine revving hard. It was like time slowed down. He just started plowing through the crowd.”
The driver, identified by authorities as Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, allegedly accelerated into a dense throng of festivalgoers, crushing tables, shattering tents, and striking dozens of unsuspecting people — some holding food, others holding children.
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In the chaotic aftermath, as the screams of the injured pierced the night, police officers, volunteers, and bystanders tore down tent poles and yanked away fabric to fashion makeshift stretchers. Blood pooled on the asphalt where moments earlier children had been dancing.
By Sunday morning, at least 11 people — ranging in age from 5 to 65 — were confirmed dead. Another 34 were being treated at Vancouver General Hospital and nearby facilities. Several remain in critical condition, according to interim Police Chief Steve Rai.
“It is with profound sorrow that we must say: Vancouver’s Filipino community — and indeed, all of Vancouver — has suffered a terrible wound,” Chief Rai said at an emotional news conference Sunday afternoon.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was on an official visit to Toronto, issued a statement calling the attack “an unfathomable act of cruelty” and declared it a “car-ramming attack” — the first such deadly assault of its kind in Canada since the 2018 Toronto van attack that killed 11 people.
A Suspect in Custody
Authorities said the suspect attempted to flee the scene but was tackled by two festivalgoers — one of whom was later identified as Eugene Santos, a 43-year-old off-duty nurse, who said he was “running on pure adrenaline.”
“I didn’t think. I just ran after him,” Mr. Santos said. “He tried to climb over a booth, but a couple of us grabbed him and held him until police got there.”
Late Sunday night, prosecutors announced that Lo, a Canadian citizen of Chinese and Filipino descent, had been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, with additional charges expected as the investigation unfolds.
The motive remains unclear. Police said Lo had no known connections to terrorist organizations, and while mental health issues have not been ruled out, the authorities emphasized that it was too early to speculate on a precise cause.
Court records show that Lo had prior arrests related to reckless driving and assault, but no major criminal convictions. Neighbors at Lo’s East Vancouver apartment complex described him as “reclusive” and “odd,” often seen tinkering with his car late at night but rarely speaking to anyone.
Festival Turned Tragedy
The Lapu Lapu Festival was intended to celebrate unity. For Vancouver’s vibrant Filipino community, it had become an annual tradition, drawing thousands from across the Lower Mainland.
“We were celebrating our history, our culture, our triumphs,” said Rowena Castillo, president of the Filipino Cultural Society of British Columbia and lead organizer of the festival. “Now, it feels like our entire community is in mourning.”
Rowena’s voice broke during a Sunday vigil as hundreds gathered to light candles near the festival site, now cordoned off with police tape and surrounded by somber crowds.
Among the victims was Amelia Bautista, a 42-year-old mother of two, described by friends as a “pillar” of the local Filipino community. Her 7-year-old daughter, Lina, remains hospitalized with multiple fractures. Also killed was Tommy Ngo, 26, an aspiring chef who had been selling lumpia at his family’s food truck and was helping a neighboring vendor when he was struck. The youngest victim, identified by family members as Leo Mendoza, just 5 years old, had been eating cotton candy when the SUV barreled toward him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A City in Shock
Mayor Ken Sim declared a citywide day of mourning for Tuesday and announced that counseling services would be made available for survivors, witnesses, and first responders.
“Vancouver is heartbroken,” Mayor Sim said, his voice trembling during a Sunday evening press conference. “We are determined not to let this horrific act define us.” Grief counselors were dispatched to local Filipino community centers, and churches across the city opened their doors for prayer services.
In Manila, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also expressed condolences, calling the attack “a tragedy not only for Filipino Canadians but for the global Filipino family.”
Investigators Seek Answers
As of Monday morning, investigators were meticulously combing the scene. Drones buzzed overhead, and forensic technicians snapped hundreds of photographs of tire tracks, debris, and abandoned belongings — a child’s shoe, a crushed bouquet of flowers, a shattered cellphone.
The Vancouver Police Major Crimes Unit confirmed that they are reviewing footage from dozens of security cameras, festival livestreams, and bystander videos.
Lo’s black Audi SUV — heavily damaged and still spattered with blood — has been impounded for forensic examination. Police said they found no explosives or weapons inside the vehicle.
Chief Rai said the investigation was still in its “early stages” but promised transparency and thoroughness. “The people of Vancouver — especially the Filipino community — deserve answers. And we will find them,” he said.
A Community’s Resilience
Despite the trauma, organizers vowed that the Lapu Lapu Festival would return next year — a testament to the resilience of the community. “We will grieve, but we will not live in fear,” said Castillo at the vigil, to a swell of applause from the mourners.
Among the flickering candles and handwritten notes laid out at a makeshift memorial on Robson Street, one message stood out:
The day had been picture-perfect. The sun shone brightly over downtown Vancouver, casting a golden light over thousands of families and festivalgoers celebrating the Lapu Lapu Festival, an annual tribute to Filipino culture and resilience. Laughter and music filled Robson Street, the aroma of adobo and fresh lumpia drifted from food trucks, and artisans proudly displayed traditional crafts.
Then, at around 8 p.m., horror ripped through the festivities. A black Audi SUV forced its way past a portable barrier into the heart of the celebration. Witnesses initially assumed it was a vendor retrieving goods. But as the vehicle accelerated into the crowd, it became sickeningly clear that something was terribly wrong. “He sideswiped someone first,” recalled Kris Pangilinan, a clothing vendor. “Then it was like a roar — the engine just screamed. And then people started dropping.”
At least 11 people — aged 5 to 65 — were killed. Another 34 were hospitalized, many in critical condition. It was Vancouver’s deadliest mass casualty incident in recent memory, and it has left Canada’s large Filipino community — and the nation at large — reeling in grief and disbelief.
A Known Suspect, But Questions Linger
By Sunday evening, authorities identified the driver as Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, a Vancouver resident. Lo faces eight counts of second-degree murder so far, with more charges likely as the investigation continues.
Police Chief Steve Rai, visibly shaken, declined to speculate on Lo’s motive but revealed that officers had prior “substantive contact” with him over mental health issues “We are pursuing every lead, and we are committed to finding out why this tragedy occurred,” Chief Rai said.
British Columbia Premier David Eby was more direct, saying that “the driver acted intentionally” in plowing through the dense crowd. However, terrorism has been ruled out as a motive by both local police and federal national security officials, according to Prime Minister Mark Carney. “We do not believe there is any active threat to Canadians,” Mr. Carney said in Hamilton, Ontario.
Authorities stressed that there were no indications Lo was affiliated with extremist groups. Investigators are now delving into his personal history, mental health background, and electronic communications for possible clues.
Panic, Mourning, and the Search for Loved Ones
Throughout Saturday night and into Sunday morning, Vancouver’s tight-knit Filipino community frantically exchanged calls and messages, desperate for news.
“I don’t think my phone buzzed that much in my entire life,” said R.J. Aquino, chairman of the Filipino Canadian Community and Cultural Society of B.C. “There was a lot of panic — and a wave of relief when someone answered.”
Others were not so fortunate.
Mable Elmore, a provincial lawmaker and festival organizer, said her office quickly became a refuge for stunned survivors, many of whom were bloodied, crying, or searching for loved ones. At a news conference Sunday afternoon, Ms. Elmore choked back tears. “It was a beautiful day for a celebration,” she said. “Now, we are in incredible pain. But the Filipino community will show true resilience.”
A Festival Rooted in Pride — and Now in Tragedy
The Lapu Lapu Festival, first launched in 2023, honors Datu Lapu Lapu, the Indigenous leader who famously resisted Spanish colonization in 1521. In Vancouver, it had grown into a vibrant annual event showcasing Filipino music, dance, cuisine, and craftsmanship.
“We were celebrating strength, heritage, and survival,” Ms. Elmore said. “It is cruelly ironic that this tragedy happened at an event dedicated to resistance and hope.”
Among the dead are several prominent members of the community, including Amelia Bautista, 42, a nurse and mother of two, and Tommy Ngo, 26, who had been selling food at his family’s truck. Leo Mendoza, just 5 years old, was the youngest victim.
Political Reverberations
The attack shook not only British Columbia but the entire country, particularly as it unfolded amid the final days of a heated Canadian federal election. The election campaign — dominated by U.S. President Donald Trump threats of tariffs and a bizarre vow to “annex Canada” as America’s 51st state — ground to a halt.
Both Prime Minister Carney and New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh canceled campaign events Sunday to focus on the tragedy. Carney visited mourning families in Vancouver, telling reporters: “Last night, families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, a son, or a daughter. They are living every family’s worst nightmare.”
Carney specifically addressed Filipino Canadians:
“We are with you. Canadians are united in grief and in resolve.”
Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative leader, continued some campaign events but made an appearance at a Filipino church in suburban Toronto, where he spoke briefly and called for “strength and unity in a time of grief.”
Voices of Courage
Amid the carnage, there were also stories of bravery. Jacob Bureros, a hip-hop artist who had just finished performing, described how he helped tackle Lo after the SUV crashed. “He got out of the car and ran. Three of us surrounded him, screaming at him,” Bureros said. “A security guard and event organizer stepped in to protect him — not because they sympathized, but to stop others from doing something they might regret.”
Police credited those bystanders with ensuring Lo was arrested safely and without further violence.
A City That Celebrates Diversity Mourns Together
Vancouver, where more than 50 percent of residents identify as a “visible minority” according to the 2021 census, has long prided itself on its multiculturalism. Filipinos are among the city’s fastest-growing ethnic groups, heavily represented in healthcare, child care, and long-term elder care.
Premier Eby acknowledged their contributions: “Filipino Canadians are the backbone of so many essential services. Now it’s our turn to support them in their grief.”
Palace Orders Assistance for Filipinos Affected by Canada Shooting Tragedy
“I am completely shattered to hear about the terrible incident in Vancouver. My deepest sympathies to the victims’ families and to the entire Filipino Canadian community.” – Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Malacañang has ordered immediate assistance for Filipino nationals affected by the tragic shooting incident in Canada, which claimed the lives of several people during a festival celebration.
Usec. Claire Castro, a Palace press officer, confirmed that the government has already established communication with the victims and is working to provide necessary aid. “We are deeply saddened by this senseless tragedy and our hearts go out to the families of those who lost loved ones,” Castro said.
Vice President Sara Duterte, in a statement, condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms. “I condemn this deliberate assault in the strongest possible terms,” she said. “There is no justification for targeting peaceful festivalgoers, and those responsible must be held fully accountable under Canadian law.”
The shooting incident, which occurred during a festival in the Canadian province of [Insert Province Name], has shocked the Filipino community both in the Philippines and abroad. The Philippine government is working closely with Canadian authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of Filipino citizens in the affected area.
Unanswered Questions
While the attack has been classified as intentional, major gaps remain. Was Lo suffering a psychotic break? Was there a grievance that fueled the rage? Investigators are examining whether systemic gaps in mental health care contributed to the tragedy. Public safety experts noted that while many Canadian cities have fortified large public events with snowplows and barricades since the 2018 Toronto van attack, such measures were not fully implemented at the Lapu Lapu Festival.
Police said the event had private security, but no heavy vehicle barriers — a decision now under review. Despite fears, officials allowed Vancouver’s annual Sun Run, a 10-kilometer race with more than 45,000 runners, to go ahead Sunday morning, citing no credible ongoing threats.
Still, for many in the Filipino community, the attack leaves a lasting scar. “Why us?” Mr. Pangilinan asked. “Why would anyone harm such a beautiful, loving community?”
He paused, voice cracking. “This pain will live with us forever. But so will the memory of those we lost — and the pride they had in being Filipino.”
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What is Lapu-Lapu Day Celebration for the Filipinos?
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – A joyous celebration of Filipino heritage in Vancouver turned to tragedy Saturday evening as a vehicle plowed into a crowd attending the annual Lapu-Lapu Day festival, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. Lapu-Lapu Day commemorates a pivotal moment in Philippine history, yet a recent tragic incident during a Vancouver festival has left Filipinos reeling.
Thousands had gathered in the Sunset neighbourhood to commemorate Lapu-Lapu, the Filipino chieftain who famously defeated Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, a pivotal moment in Philippine history. The festival, a vibrant display of Filipino food, music, and culture, was winding down when a dark-colored SUV suddenly rammed into the crowd.
Vancouver Police are investigating the incident as a mass casualty event and have a 30-year-old Vancouver man in custody. The exact number of fatalities and injuries has not yet been released by authorities.
The Philippine Consulate in Vancouver released a statement expressing sorrow and urging the community to remain strong, invoking the spirit of bayanihan (community spirit) during this difficult time. The incident casts a somber shadow over the recent official recognition of April 27th as Lapu-Lapu Day by the British Columbia government, a testament to the significant contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community, one of the largest immigrant groups in the province.
Lapu-Lapu’s victory over Magellan is a powerful symbol of Filipino resistance against colonization and a source of national pride. The city of Lapu-Lapu on Mactan Island serves as a lasting tribute to his legacy. The tragic events in Vancouver, however, have overshadowed the celebratory spirit of the day, leaving the Filipino-Canadian community and the city of Vancouver reeling from shock and grief. Further updates are expected as the investigation unfolds.