Vancouver Tragedy: Suspect Charged as Filipino Community Mourns

 The British Columbia Prosecution Service has charged 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo with eight counts of second-degree murder, following a devastating car-ramming attack at a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver. Authorities have indicated that additional charges may be forthcoming, according to reports from the Associated Press.

Police confirmed that Lo, a Vancouver resident with a history of mental health issues, was taken into custody shortly after a black Audi SUV drove into a crowd during the Lapu Lapu Day celebrations on Saturday evening. The attack, which occurred just after 8 p.m., claimed 11 lives—including that of a five-year-old child—and left dozens more injured. Lo remains in custody following his court appearance.

The tragedy has profoundly impacted Vancouver’s Filipino community. On Sunday evening, a candlelight vigil drew such a large gathering that police were forced to extend crime scene barriers to accommodate the crowd and maintain traffic flow along 41st Avenue. The vigil, organized by community groups including Anakbayan BC, stood as a testament to the community’s resilience and unity in the face of unimaginable grief.

“It’s really a show of how important the Filipino community is, very broadly,” said Chelsea Brager of Anakbayan BC, who helped organize the event.

Earlier that day, St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church was filled beyond capacity with mourners seeking solace and solidarity. Father Expedito Farinas delivered a moving sermon, drawing parallels between the community’s grief and the biblical story of the Apostle Thomas, who struggled with despair after the crucifixion of Christ.

Saturday’s festival had originally been a celebration of Lapu Lapu Day, commemorating the 1521 victory of Indigenous Filipinos over Spanish colonizers on Mactan Island—a symbol of resilience and collective strength that now carries even deeper meaning for the community.

Members of the Black Eyed Peas had just completed their headlining performance in Vancouver’s Sunset neighbourhood, home to a vibrant Filipino population, when the attack occurred.

At a press conference, RJ Aquino, Chair of Filipino BC, reflected on the tragedy: “It’s not lost on us that the spirit of the festival was about resistance, resilience, courage, and strength—and we are going to have to summon that spirit now more than ever.”

Community members recalled the confusion and fear in the immediate aftermath. “We didn’t quite know what was happening until we saw the news when we got home,” said Brager. Maki Cairns, a member of the women’s organization Gabriela BC, recounted receiving a flood of messages from friends and relatives across North America, desperate to check on her safety.

“Looking at the history of our people, we’ve encountered many tragedies, and we’re going to be OK,” Aquino said, addressing the community on Sunday. “It’s OK to not feel OK right now... but as we work through those feelings, we will have each other.”

He called for the community to embrace the spirit of bayanihan—the Filipino tradition of communal unity and mutual support—a sentiment echoed by many during the vigil and church service.

Jaela Villegas of Migrante BC reflected on the overwhelming support from beyond the Filipino community. “I didn’t just see my Filipino community. It was also other nationalities, other religions. A Palestinian came up to me and said, ‘Your loss is our loss.’ That’s so heartwarming,” she said.

In the midst of profound sorrow, Vancouver’s Filipino community has shown the strength, resilience, and solidarity that have long defined its spirit—and that will undoubtedly sustain it through the difficult days ahead.