The driver who fatally plowed down at least 11 festival goers has been identified as Kai-Ji Adam Lo, who police say has been suffering from mental health issues since his brother was murdered last year.
Lo, 30, of Vancouver, is now facing eight counts of second-degree murder for the attack at the city’s Lapu Lapu Festival at around 8pm on Saturday night, with police saying more charges are expected.
In the meantime, Lo will remain in custody.
Authorities have previously said that the suspect was ‘known to police in certain circumstances’ and suffered from mental health issues as they ruled out terrorism as a possible motive for the deadly attack.
On the day of the attack, Lo was believed to have been suffering from delusions and paranoia, the Vancouver Sun reports.
His mental health had been deteriorating since his brother Alexander’s death last year, and has since had dozens of interactions with police officers.
But he has no prior criminal record, and after he slammed his Audi SUV into the crowd Lo reportedly told onlookers ‘I’m sorry’ as families including young children and neighbors from across Vancouver rushed to provide first aid for those in need.
Footage from the scene even showed dead bodies and injured partygoers lying in a narrow street lined by food trucks.
The attack on Saturday night killed at least 11 people in downtown Vancouver
The impact of the crash also left the suspect’s SUV smashed in
The victims ranged in age from just five years old to 65, Vancouver police announced Sunday night, noting that not all of the victims have been identified.
The impact of the crash also left the suspect’s SUV smashed in.
Witnesses 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.
The victims ranged in age from just five years old to 65, Vancouver police announced Sunday night, noting that not all of the victims have been identified
James Cruzat, a Vancouver business owner, also said he heard the driver rev his engine – followed by 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,’ he recounted.
‘So we tried to go there just to check what was really actually happening until we found some bodies on the ground. Others were lifeless, others like, you know, injured.’
It now appears that Lo had suffered his own losses.
His brother, Alexander, 31, was found murdered inside a home at around 1am on January 28, 2024, the Vancouver Sun reports.
Dwight William Kematch, 39, was arrested at the house and was later charged with second degree murder.
Alexander Lo, 31, was found murdered inside a home at around 1am on January 28, 2024
Following the unexpected death, Kai-Ji took to GoFundMe to ask for donations for his brother’s funeral.
‘It pains me deeply to put these words down, but my brother has been taken from us in a senseless act of violence, something we never saw coming,’ he wrote at the time.
‘Our reality has abruptly shifted. Despite our disagreements, the harsh truth that he’s no longer with us hits me with an overwhelming force.’
‘I’m burdened with remorse for not spending more time with him,’ Kai-Ji continued. ‘I implore you to keep his soul in your thoughts and prayers.’
The fundraiser netted over $9,000 for Alexander’s funeral.
But just months later, in August, Kai-Ji was back asking for donations – this time after his mother attempted suicide.
