A loving family of three and a local teacher were among the 11 festival goers who were killed when a mentally ill man plowed his SUV into a crowd over the weekend.
Kira Salim, a local educator; Richard Le, 47, a local real estate agent; his wife, Linh Hoang, 30; and their five-year-old daughter, Katie, were identified on Monday as some of the victims of Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu festival attack on Saturday.
Le’s 16-year-old son from a previous marriage had also planned to join his father and stepmother at the celebration that featured a performance by Black Eyed Peas’ Apl.de.ap – but decided at the last minute to stay home to finish homework, Le’s brother, Troan Le told CTV News.
‘The last thing that Andy received was a text from his dad at like 8.06pm saying, “Don’t come anymore, because it’s over and we’re going to head home,” Troan recounted.
But just minutes later, police say 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo sped his Audi SUV down a closed, food-truck-lined street and struck people attending the festival, which celebrates an Indigenous chieftain who stood up to Spanish explorers who came to the Philippines in the 16th century.
The impact killed 11 people – including the Les and teacher Kira Salim – and injured 32 others.
As of Monday, police said seven victims remained in serious condition and three were in critical condition.
Richard Le, 47, a local real estate agent; his wife, Linh Hoang, 30; and their five-year-old daughter, Katie, were identified on Monday as some of the victims of Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu festival attack on Saturday
Le’s 16-year-old son, Andy, was also set to attend the event – but decided at the last minute to stay home and finish school work instead
Police say 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo sped his Audi SUV down a closed, food-truck-lined street and struck people attending the Lapu Lapu Day festival and killed 11 people
Troan said Andy is ‘still in a bit of shock’ following the tragedy.
‘He’s trying to absorb the situation, and I don’t think he is fully comprehending what happened.’
An online fundraiser has now been set up to support the teenager and pay for the family’s funerals.
It describes Richard as a loving father who was teaching Andy – and others in the community – badminton and tennis.
‘He devoted his life to teaching young people the values of sportsmanship and team spirit,’ the GoFundMe says. ‘He served his community and clients with pride and always went out of his way to help others.’
Linh, meanwhile, was ‘known for her kindness and gentle spirit’ and had been planning a trip to visit her family in Vietnam when she was tragically killed.
Their daughter, Katie, was nearing graduation from kindergarten and was described as a vibrant and joyful child.
‘Nothing can truly ease the grief and trauma that Andy is currently facing, and the goal of this GoFundMe campaign is to raise funds to cover funeral expenses for Richard, Linh and Katie, and provide Andy with financial support for his future college education,’ the fundraiser says.
Kira Salim, a local educator, was also killed in the crash
Salim was remembered as an ‘epic drag kind’ who worked as a teacher and counselor at Fraser River Middle School and New Westminster Secondary School
‘The horrific nature of this crime against the Le family and other victims serves as a painful reminder that, as a society, we must do better,’ it continues.
‘We hope you cherish your loved ones every single day and many others no longer have that chance.’
Also killed in the tragedy was Salim, who worked as a teacher and counselor at Fraser River Middle School and New Westminster Secondary School.
In a letter to parents on Monday, New Westminster Schools Superintendent Mark Davidson and board chair Maya Russell described Salim as a ‘valued member of our community whose wisdom and care for our middle and secondary students had a powerful impact.
‘Their work, and the great spirit they brought to it, changed lives,’ it continued.
New West Pride also shared a tribute to the fallen teacher on Facebook.
‘Our community is mourning the loss of Kira Salim, whose life was taken over the weekend at the Lapu Lapu tragedy,’ it wrote.
‘They were an epic drag king, a wonderful, exuberant contributor to our local community, volunteer, activist, local educator [and] mental health worker.
‘Kira will be deeply missed,’ the group concluded.
Kai-Ji Adam Lo is now facing eight counts of second-degree murder. His vehicle is pictured after the attack
The suspect’s motive for the attack remains unclear, but authorities have ruled out terrorism as a potential motivator
Kai-Ji Adam Lo is now facing eight counts of second-degree murder, and was arraigned in a video appearance before a judge on Sunday, according to Damienne Darby, spokeswoman for British Columbia prosecutors.
He has not yet entered a plea, as authorities warn further charges may be forthcoming.
The suspect’s motive for the attack remains unclear, but authorities have ruled out terrorism as a potential motivator.
Instead, Interim Police Chief Steve Rai noted that Lo has ‘a significant history of interactions with police and health care professionals related to mental health’ that seemed to have begun after his brother was murdered and his mother attempted suicide.
Police are now continuing to investigate the crash, and are combing through bystander video from the scene.
Officials will also review the circumstances around the crash, which Sgt. Steve Addison said could change how police approach such events.
‘This was intended to be a safe, fun, family-friendly community block party for people to celebrate their community and culture,’ Addison said. ‘The actions of one person stole that away from them.’
Police are continuing to investigate the crash, and are combing through bystander video from the scene
Officials will also review the circumstances around the crash, which Sgt. Steve Addison said could change how police approach such events
Further details about the case against Lo are subject to a publication ban in the Vancouver Provincial Court.
Such bans are common in Canada to protect the rights of the accused to a fair trial as well as the privacy of crime victims.
But witnesses who watched the carnage unfold Saturday night have described how the driver sideswiped another vehicle before he revved the SUV’s engine and plowed into the crowd.
Kris Pangilinan, who brought his pop-up clothing and lifestyle booth to the festival, for example, said he saw the vehicle enter past the barricade slowly before the driver slammed on the gas in an area that was packed with people following a concert.
‘He sideswiped someone on his right side and I was like, `Oh, yo yo.´ And then he slammed on the gas,’ Pangilinan said. ‘And the sound of the acceleration, it sounds like an F1 car about to start a race.
‘He slammed on the gas, barreled through the crowd. And all I can remember is seeing bodies flying up in the air higher than the food trucks themselves and landing on the ground and people yelling and screaming.
‘It looked like a bowling ball hitting bowling pins and all the pins are flying into the air.’
Pangilinan added how the sounds of the bodies hitting the vehicle will never leave his mind.
James Cruzat, a Vancouver business owner, also said he heard an engine rev and then ‘a loud noise, like a loud bang’ that he initially thought might be a gunshot.
‘We saw people on the road crying. Others were like running, shouting or even screaming, asking for help,’ Cruzat said.
Video of the aftermath also showed the dead and injured lying along a narrow street in South Vancouver with Lo’s Audi stopped nearby, the front end of it smashed in.
A makeshift memorial was growing near the scene of the tragedy on Monday
A man relights candles at a memorial site for the victims near the site of the attack
Carayn Nulada, meanwhile, told how she pulled her granddaughter and grandson off the street and used her body to shield them from the SUV. She said her daughter made a narrow escape.
‘The car hit her arm, and she fell down, but she got up, looking for us, because she is scared,’ said Nulada, who described children screaming and victims lying on the ground or wedged under vehicles.
By Sunday morning, Nulada arrived at Vancouver General Hospital in a desperate attempt to learn about her brother, who was run down in the attack and suffered multiple broken bones.
Doctors identified him by presenting the family with his wedding ring in a pill bottle and said that he was stable but would need surgery.
Meanwhile, others gathered at a growing memorial near the scene of the attack.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Sunday, just one day before a national election. He canceled his first campaign event and two major rallies on the final day of the campaign out of respect for the victims.
‘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. He joined British Columbia Premier David Eby and community leaders Sunday evening in Vancouver.
The prime minister then posted a photo of himself on X lighting a candle at a makeshift memorial near the scene of the attack.
