Grief, Questions, and a City Searching for Answers After the Lapu Lapu Festival Attack
(Courtesy of CBC)
On the evening of April 26, a Filipino cultural celebration in Vancouver became the scene of the city’s deadliest mass killing in modern history. An SUV tore through a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day festival, killing 11 and injuring more than 30 others.
The devastating impact on families, survivors, and the Filipino-Canadian community has rippled far beyond British Columbia, sparking an outpouring of grief, questions, and scrutiny of Canada’s mental health and public safety systems. This report gathers everything known so far about the tragedy, the victims, the alleged perpetrator, and the potential systemic failings exposed in its wake.
The Timeline
The attack took place just after 8 p.m. on East 43rd Avenue near Fraser Street. The festival, hosted on school grounds, was nearing its end when a 2018 black Audi Q7 accelerated into a pedestrian-only section filled with food trucks and families.
Witnesses reported that the SUV struck people with such force that bodies were flung like bowling pins, some landing meters from where they had stood. There was no warning. The vehicle's hood crumpled from the sheer force of the collisions.
The driver attempted to flee the scene but was subdued by bystanders until police arrived. Authorities have ruled out terrorism. The suspect is 30-year-old Kai-ji Adam Lo.
Lives Shattered
Richard Le (47), Linh Hoang (30), and Katie Le (5):
(The Le family. Image: GoFundMe.)
A husband, wife, and their five-year-old daughter were all killed. Sixteen-year-old Andy Le, the family’s only surviving member, had stayed home to finish homework. Andy, who released a thank-you video on social media, said he will donate $266,000 of his GoFundMe support — which had surpassed $542,000 as of Friday — to help other victims of the attack. The loss has left a gaping hole in both their family and the wider community. Richard was a badminton and tennis coach.
Rizza Azzir:
(Image: GoFundMe.)
Having emigrated from the Philippines, Rizza had settled in Winnipeg with her husband. Described as humble and hardworking, she was remembered by family as "the sweetest soul." Efforts are underway to repatriate her body to the Philippines. A GoFundMe to support Rizza can be found here.
Kira Salim:
(Image: GoFundMe.)
A teacher-counsellor at Fraser River Middle and New Westminster Secondary School, Salim is mourned by colleagues and students across both school communities. A GoFundMe organized by Kira’s friend can be found here.
Maria Victoria (Vicky) Bjarnason:
(Pictured: Helgi and Vicky. Image via GoFundMe.)
Vicky was visiting from the Philippines and had just celebrated her son Helgi’s birthday the night before the attack. She was holding his hand when the SUV tore through the crowd, ripping her away. She died at the scene. Helgi, 27, sustained a broken leg and was hospitalized. A friend who stood with them was also killed. A GoFundMe to support Helgi can be found here.
Jendhel May Sico:
(Image: GoFundMe.)
Jendhel was also tragically killed. She is described by her sister as “kind-hearted with a beautiful soul” who “always had a smile on her face” and brought positivity to those around her. A GoFundMe organized by Jendhel’s sister, Maydhel, can be found here.
Val and Jeb De La Cruz:
(Image: GoFundMe.)
Val De La Cruz and his nearly two-year-old son Jeb were both critically injured in the attack. Val is recovering in hospital, while Jeb remains in intensive care. A GoFundMe to support Val, Jeb, and their loved ones can be found here.
Christi and Nox Watkins:
(Image: GoFundMe.)
Christi sustained multiple broken bones and internal injuries. Her 11-year-old son, Nox, was also hospitalized. While both are currently in stable condition, a friend reports that Christi’s injuries are extensive, including two fractured vertebrae, several broken ribs, a punctured lung, and kidney damage. A GoFundMe to support Christi and Nox can be found here.
Ahmed Saadiq Quraishi:
(Image: GoFundMe.)
While queuing for food, Saadiq sustained traumatic injuries including a fractured hip, collapsed lung, internal bleeding, and brain damage. Recovery will be long and costly. A GoFundMe to support Saadiq can be found here.
Roland Nulada:
(Image: GoFundMe.)
Hospitalized with a broken leg, broken arm, and internal injuries, Roland faces not only physical trauma but also economic hardship, as his inability to work puts additional strain on his family, for whom he is the primary provider.
Jenifer Darbellay:
(Image: GoFundMe.)
An accomplished artist and costume designer originally from Calgary, Jenifer Darbellay was attending the Lapu Lapu Day festival with her husband when she was killed. A graduate of the Alberta College of Art and Design and the University of British Columbia’s MFA program, she was remembered by friends as compassionate, generous, and a devoted wife and mother. Her husband, Noel Johansen, was injured in the attack and later spoke at a vigil, describing his heartbreak. Darbellay leaves behind two children, ages 15 and seven. A GoFundMe to support the family can be found here.
The Accused: Kai-ji Adam Lo
(Courtesy of CBC)
Lo, 30, had no criminal record, but his descent into mental instability was documented across dozens of interactions with police and mental health professionals.
His family endured a series of compounding traumas. In January 2024, his brother Alexander was murdered. In August, his mother attempted suicide and was hospitalized for a month. The family faced mounting financial hardship.
At the time of the attack, Lo was under the care of a mental health team and on extended leave from the hospital under British Columbia’s Mental Health Act. Authorities claim there were no signs that he was deviating from his treatment plan.
A relative had contacted a psychiatric facility the same day as the attack, citing concerns that Lo was experiencing paranoia and delusions.
On April 25, just one day before the attack, Lo called Richmond RCMP around 3 a.m., claiming someone had thrown something into his SUV. A Mountie reportedly spoke with him over the phone and documented the incident in the PRIME police database. According to Postmedia, Lo was known as a “frequent flyer,” frequently contacting authorities with reports of perceived threats tied to delusional fears — often involving his vehicle or people following him.
Vancouver police said they only became aware of the April 25 interaction after the attack, when investigators reviewed the PRIME system. No follow-up occurred at the time, and there is no indication that Lo’s mental-health team was alerted to the incident.
The Legal Case and Investigation
(Courtesy of CBC)
Lo has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder. Additional charges are expected as more victims are identified.
Premier David Eby has confirmed that a full public inquiry will follow the criminal trial. The inquiry will examine whether systemic gaps in healthcare, law enforcement, and inter-agency communication contributed to the tragedy — including whether red flags in Lo’s history were adequately addressed.
The defence may explore a Not Criminally Responsible Due to Mental Disorder (NCRMD) plea. Legal experts stress that such defences are rare and difficult to prove. Even with a psychiatric diagnosis, a person must be shown to have been unable to grasp the moral or physical nature of their actions at the time.
Systemic Failures Under Scrutiny
This tragedy has reignited deep concerns about Canada’s mental health system. Critics argue that a lack of institutional psychiatric care and the erosion of involuntary treatment pathways leave dangerous gaps.
The 1980s and 1990s saw the widespread closure of psychiatric hospitals, with the promise of robust community-based care. But the promised funding never fully materialized. Today, involuntary care is limited, crisis-focused, and difficult to implement proactively.
Dr. Bill MacEwan, a psychiatrist at Surrey pretrial jail, told Postmedia that the volume of Lo’s police interactions and the intensity of his paranoia should have raised clear red flags for his care team. Even if Lo was adhering to his medication plan, MacEwan said, “the degree of paranoia is not something that should be ignored.”
Reports from The Globe and Mail indicate that Lo’s mental-health team had previously expressed concern over his unwillingness to take prescribed medication, and that he had unsuccessfully attempted to lift conditions mandating treatment.
In response, Premier Eby announced a full legislative overhaul of the BC Mental Health Act, originally passed 30 years ago. The Act is currently facing a constitutional challenge from civil rights advocates, but Eby defended its core provisions, stating that the ability to compel people into care must be preserved and strengthened.
Political and Institutional Response
(Courtesy of CBC)
Premier Eby announced the launch of an independent commission to review public event safety, aiming to issue guidance by June. He also promised a full public inquiry if the criminal process fails to satisfy public need for answers.
Vancouver Coastal Health, under scrutiny for Lo’s outpatient management, said protocols were followed and no public safety risks were identified.
The provincial government has declared Friday, May 2, 2025, as an official day of remembrance and mourning to honour the victims of the Lapu Lapu Day Festival tragedy. The day invites British Columbians to reflect on the lives lost and express gratitude to the first responders, medical staff, and volunteers who supported victims and families in the aftermath.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim announced that the city will conduct a full internal review of the event, focusing on permitting, site safety, and emergency protocols. The review will also assess vulnerabilities in public spaces such as schoolyards, patios, and beaches.
Sim expressed frustration with the pace of systemic reform, asking, “How many more reviews do we need?” He urged federal and provincial officials to expand the number of psychiatric treatment beds beyond the 400 currently committed.
In terms of frontline services, Sim said 38 of 49 new full-time mental health positions identified by Vancouver Coastal Health have been filled. The city has also doubled the capacity of its Car 87/88 program, which pairs police officers with registered psychiatric nurses to respond to mental-health-related calls.
Interim Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai echoed these concerns, emphasizing that while most people with mental illness are not violent, the most acute cases still demand a fully resourced response system to prevent harm.
His remarks reflect a broader unease over escalating public safety concerns in Vancouver — a city where, since the pandemic, there has been a significant rise in high-profile acts of random violence.
Some recent examples include:
April 15, 2025: A woman visiting from Toronto was walking the Coal Harbour seawall when she was violently assaulted, leaving her with a broken nose, cuts, and bruises.
March 18, 2025: A 92-year-old man was found seriously injured in a Downtown Eastside alley after being attacked by several individuals. He died of his injuries two weeks later, on March 31.
April 10, 2025: Two police officers on foot patrol in the Downtown Eastside suffered burns when a suspect ignited their uniforms. Just weeks earlier, on March 5, another officer had been slashed in the leg during a separate incident in the same area.
November 28, 2024: A man was suddenly punched outside The Bay on West Georgia Street. The accused was also linked to other seemingly random assaults near the Vancouver Art Gallery and at West Pender and Granville streets.
November 22, 2024: A 63-year-old man was stabbed and seriously injured after confronting a suspected shoplifter in Olympic Village.
September 4, 2024: A man was fatally stabbed in downtown Vancouver, while another victim in the same incident had his hand severed in what police described as an unprovoked assault.
September 2023: A man on an unescorted day pass from a psychiatric hospital stabbed three people at a community celebration in Chinatown.
Community Response and Support
(Courtesy of CBC)
GoFundMe campaigns for the victims have collectively raised over $2 million. In addition, United Way BC and Filipino BC have partnered to launch the Kapwa Strong Fund, which has raised nearly $280,000 as of Friday to support trauma counselling, mental health services, and other urgent needs. The Kapwa Strong Fund aims to support both direct victims and members of the wider Filipino community affected by the attack, with long-term assistance planned through local agencies.
Vigils have been held. Schools and local groups have issued statements of remembrance.
Lo appeared in Vancouver provincial court on Friday, where Judge Reginald Harris granted a request from Lo’s legal counsel, Mark Schwartz, for a mental fitness assessment to determine whether he is fit to stand trial. Lo remains in custody, has not entered a plea, and is currently charged with eight counts of second-degree murder. His assessment will be conducted in an in-custody facility by mental health professionals, and his next court appearance is scheduled for May 30, when the results of the assessment are expected to be submitted. A court-ordered publication ban now covers further details of his appearance to ensure a fair trial. Additional charges are anticipated as the investigation continues.
