Suspect Charged With Eight Counts Of Murder In Vancouver Car Ramming That Killed 11

Last Updated:April 28, 2025, 07:13 IST

Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, allegedly rammed his car into a crowd celebrating the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver, killing 11 people and injuring dozens. He was arrested on the spot.

Visitors pay their respects at a memorial after a vehicle drove into a crowd in Canada's Vancouver. (AP)

A 30-year-old man, who allegedly drove his vehicle into a crowd at a street festival in Canada’s Vancouver on Saturday, killing 11 people and injuring dozens more, has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, according to police.

At least 11 people, aged 5 to 65, were killed and over two dozen others were injured when Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, rammed his car into the crowd celebrating the ‘Lapu Lapu Day’ festival, near Fraser Street on East 43rd Avenue. The suspect, who appeared to be of Asian origin, could be seen in a video saying “sorry" to the crowd who detained him until the police arrived to arrest him.

Lo was arrested at the scene by Vancouver Police after bystanders and witnesses intervened to detain him. “The BC Prosecution Service has now charged Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, with eight counts of second-degree murder. Lo, a Vancouver resident, has appeared in court and remains in custody," the police said on X.

The cops further said the case was not being investigated as an act of terrorism. Lo was charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, which is defined in Canada as an intentional killing that wasn’t planned in advance.

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Accused Had ‘Mental Health Problems’

Lo appeared very briefly in court for a bail hearing Sunday afternoon, wearing grey sweats. He did not request bail and will remain in custody until his next appearance, scheduled for May 26 in Vancouver provincial court, according to CBC News.

At a news conference Sunday morning, interim Vancouver police chief Steve Rai called it the “darkest day in the city’s history", saying there are questions whether this tragedy could have been prevented.

“The suspect was known to police in certain circumstances. He had a “significant history" of interaction with police and mental health care professionals," Rai told reporters on Saturday night without elaborating.

He defended the police department’s preparations for the festival and said the crash was not being investigated as an act of terrorism, as police do not believe there was religious or political ideology behind it.

Several videos showed the black SUV, which was suspected to be the main vehicle driven into the festival, with a crushed front hood and had deployed airbags in the driver’s side window after the deadly crash. Dozens of people were seen being tended by first responders and other civilians, while others lay motionless and bloodied on the street.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a brief address to the nation, called the incident deliberate, saying Vancouver police describe it as “a car-ramming attack." In an emotional address, he said, “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."

In a statement, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said he is shocked and saddened by the “horrific incident" at the Lapu Lapu Day event. “We will work to provide more information as soon as we can, but at this time Vancouver police have confirmed that there are a number of fatalities and multiple injuries," he said.

What Is Lapu Lapu Day?

Lapu Lapu Day is celebrated every year in the Philippines on 27 April to commemorate Lapu-Lapu, a national hero who resisted Spanish colonisation. The festival was officially set up in Vancouver which is home to 141,230 Canadians of Filipino descent – in 2023. Its website says it “symbolises the cultural harmony and mutual respect that thrive in the province of British Columbia".

“We pray that our community remains strong and resilient, imbued with the spirit of bayanihan (community spirit) during this difficult time," The Philippine consulate in Vancouver said in a statement.

Ottawa, Canada

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