Photo credit: people.com

Fatal Incident at Vancouver Street Festival: Charges Filed

Thirty-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo was charged with eight counts of second-degree murder on April 27, following a tragic incident that occurred the previous day at the Lapu Lapu Day street festival in Vancouver, which resulted in the deaths of at least 11 individuals.

According to authorities, Lo allegedly drove his vehicle at high speeds through a crowded area, striking festival attendees. The Vancouver Police Department reported that the victims were aged between 5 and 65, including a young girl aged 5. The incident also left over two dozen people injured.

Officials stated that “the charge assessment is ongoing, and further charges are anticipated,” indicating that the toll might rise as some victims remain in critical condition.

Lo reportedly had a prior history with law enforcement, with police noting that he was known to them for various interactions related to mental health issues.

During a recent press conference, Acting Police Chief Steve Rai emphasized that the evidence currently does not support the idea that this event was an act of terrorism. He described it as one of the “darkest days” in the city’s history.

Even though police do not suspect terrorism, specific motivations for Lo’s actions have not been disclosed. Additionally, the Vancouver Police Department mentioned that some victims remain unidentified. A 24-hour assistance center has been established for those seeking information about missing family and friends.

The Lapu Lapu Day festival is a celebration honoring a Filipino holiday, and it attracted an estimated 100,000 attendees. The tragic event unfolded around 8:14 PM local time, near East 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street.

Witnesses described the horrifying moments leading up to the crash. Yoseb Vardeh recalled that Lo’s SUV was traveling at approximately 60 mph, and the sound of the engine revving left him bewildered as he observed people being struck.

Vardeh recounted, “It didn’t make any sense to me because there’s still people here, like, it sounded like a car speeding… I look up and there’s people flying. It just happened so fast.” He further noted the chaos, stating there were “bodies everywhere” as Lo drove through the crowd.

In preparation for the festival, police conducted a threat assessment but had not anticipated serious issues. Reports indicated that one street was partially closed during the event; however, there were no barriers in place at the location where the tragedy occurred.

The Vancouver Police Department has confirmed that Lo will remain in custody as investigations proceed, and they are urging additional witnesses to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.

Source
people.com