Vancouver car ramming attack: A look at charges filed against suspect Kai-Ji Adam Lo
Kai-Ji Adam Lo was charged with eight counts of second degree murder in a video appearance before a judge on Sunday, hours after he was arrested at the scene.
A 30-year-old man was charged with multiple counts of murder on allegations he killed 11 people when he rammed a crowd of people at a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, as hundreds attended vigils across the city for the victims and the Canadian prime minister visited the site on the eve of a federal election.
Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, was charged with eight counts of second degree murder in a video appearance before a judge on Sunday, hours after he was arrested at the scene, said Damienne Darby, spokeswoman for British Columbia prosecutors. Lo has not yet entered a plea.
Investigators ruled out terrorism as a motive and said more charges are possible. They said Lo had a history of mental health issues.
An attorney for Lo was not listed in online court documents and The Associated Press wasn't immediately able to reach an attorney representing him.
Those killed were between the ages of 5 and 65, officials said. About two dozen people were injured, some critically, when the black Audi SUV sped down a closed street just after 8 pm Saturday and struck people attending the Lapu Lapu Day festival. Authorities had not released victims' names by Sunday evening.
Nathaly Nairn and her 15-year-old daughter carried flowers to one of the vigils. They had attended the festival on Saturday, and Nairn recounted seeing the damaged SUV and bodies on the ground.
“Something really dark happened last night,” Nairn said, as she and her daughter wiped away tears.
Emily Daniels also brought a bouquet. “It's sad. Really sad,” she said. “I can't believe something like this could happen so close to home.”
Police Interim Chief Steve Rai called it “the darkest day in Vancouver's history.” There was no indication of a motive, but Rai said the suspect has “a significant history of interactions with police and health care professionals related to mental health.”
Video of the aftermath showed the dead and injured along a narrow street in South Vancouver lined by food trucks. The front of the Audi SUV was smashed in.
Kris Pangilinan, who brought his pop-up clothing and lifestyle booth to the festival, saw the vehicle enter slowly past a barricade before the driver accelerated in an area packed with people after a concert. He said hearing the sounds of people screaming and bodies hitting the vehicle will never leave his mind.
“He slammed on the gas, barreled through the crowd,” Pangilinan said. "It looked like a bowling ball hitting bowling pins and all the pins are flying into the air.”
Suspect detained by bystanders before the police arrived
Rai said the suspect was arrested after initially being apprehended by bystanders.
Video circulating on social media showed a young man in a black hoodie with his back against a chain-link fence, alongside a security guard and surrounded by bystanders screaming and swearing at him.
“I'm sorry,” the man said, holding his hand to his head. Rai declined to comment on the video.
Prime Minister Mark Carney cancelled his first campaign event and two major rallies on the final day of the election campaign before Monday's vote.
“Last night families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, father, son or a daughter. Those families are living every family's nightmare,” Carney said. “And to them and to the many others who were injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver, I would like to offer my deepest condolences."
Carney joined British Columbia Premier David Eby and community leaders Sunday evening in Vancouver.
“In this incredibly difficult moment, we will comfort the grieving, care for one another, and united in common purpose,” Carney posted in French and English on X along with a photo of him lighting a candle at a makeshift memorial near the scene of the attack.
The tragedy was reminiscent of an attack in 2018, when a man used a van to kill 10 pedestrians in Toronto.
