Prosecutors say more accusations are possible against Kai-Ji Adam Lo, who was arrested on the scene
The suspect of a car attack that killed 11 people and injured dozens at a Philippine inheritance festival in the Canadian city of Vancouver was denounced eight charges of second -degree murder, prosecutors said.
More accusations were possible against Kai-ji Adam Lo, 30, said the British Columbia prosecutor. The investigators ruled out terrorism and said that LO had a history of mental health problems.
Lo, resident of Vancouver, attended the court and remains in custody, the prosecutors said.
Prime Minister Mark Carnery met with members of the Philippine Community on Sunday after the tragic event, lighting candles and depositing bouquets to the victims, including a memorial near the attack site.
Only two days from a national election, Carry said the attack left the country “shocked, devastated and desolate.” Vancouver police chief Steve Rai described the carnage as “the darkest day” in the city’s history and told reporters that it was “impossible to exaggerate how many lives were impacted forever” by the lonely driver.
Some of the injured were in critical condition. Until Sunday night, the authorities had not released the names of the dead, but said they were between 5 and 65 years old.
The attack occurred shortly after 8 pm on Saturday, when a man drove a black SUV along a city street, running over people who participated in the Lapu Lapu Day festival. He was arrested at the scene.
A video of the accident showed dead and injured along the narrow street in South Vancouver, full of food trucks. The front of the driver’s SUV was quite damaged.
The Lapu-Lapu Festival, held on a hot spring day, attracted almost 100,000 people, many of whom were families with young children. The celebration bears the name of Datu Lapu-cap, a combatant of the indigenous resistance in the Philippines, who orchestrated the defeat of Portuguese explorer Fernão de Magalhães in battle in 1521.
The Saturday festival was the city’s second annual event and the organizers announced a street parade, artisans, cultural activities, a basketball tournament and local food sellers.
A woman and a child pay tribute to the dead at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival. The attack occurred only two days before a national election. | Chris Helgren/Reuters
Carry, the Prime Minister of the Liberal Party and former governor of the Bank of England, a favorite to win Monday’s election, interrupted the campaign to speak in the country on Sunday morning.
“These families are living the nightmare of any family,” said Carry, visibly thrilled. “I know that with all the Canadians in mourning you. I know the Canadians are united to you.”
Carry referred to “Bayanihan”, the Philippine value of community that serves to the needy. “This spirit is what we should seek at this incredibly difficult moment. We will comfort the mourning. We will take care of each other. We will come together in a common purpose.”
Kris Pangilinan, who brought his pop-up booth of clothing and lifestyle to the festival, saw the vehicle slowly pass through the barricade before accelerating in a crowded area after a show. He said he will never stop hearing the sound of bodies by beating the vehicle.
“And all I remember is to see bodies flying louder than the food trucks themselves and falling to the floor, and people shouting and screaming. It looked like a ball by hitting the bowling pins, and all the pins flying high.”
Carayn Nullada said he took his granddaughter and grandson out of the street and wore his body to protect them from the SUV. She said her daughter narrowly escaped.
“The car hit her arm and she fell, but got up and came to us, because she was afraid,” said Noulada, who described children shouting and pale victims fallen on the floor or stuck under the vehicles. “I saw people running and my daughter trembled.”
Festival participants held the suspect until police could arrive.
A video that circulated on social networks showed a young sweatshirt with his back resting on a wire fence, next to a security guard and surrounded by viewers shouting and cursing him.
Police set up a 24 -hour assistance center to help anyone who failed to contact relatives or friends at the festival.
Carney canceled her first campaign event and two major rallies on the last day of the election campaign before Monday’s vote, which was strongly influenced by Donald Trump’s spectrum to attach Canada and a trade war that he launched against the northern neighbor of his country.
Vancouver had over 38,600 residents of Philippine ascendance in 2021, representing 5.9% of the city’s total population, according to Statistics Canada.
Originally published by The Guardian on 28/04/2025
By Leyland Cecco in Toronto and Harriet Sherwood with agencies
Associated Press contributed to this report
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/04/28/suspeito-de-atropelamento-em-vancouver-foi-denunciado-por-oito-acusacoes-de-homicidio/
