Horror and tragedy in Vancouver and for the Filipino community

It’s a tragedy without precedent in Vancouver. On Saturday night, an SUV slammed into crowds gathered at the Lapu Lapu Filipino street festival, killing 11 people and leaving dozens injured, with potentially more deaths to come.

Understanding what happened: Kai-Ji Adam Lo faces eight counts of second-degree murder, after driving through the festival, which was taking place at East 43rd and Fraser Street, just before 8 pm, according CBC. The people killed range in age from five to 65. 

• One eyewitness told the CBC that as the event was being taken down, a vehicle was let in as the barriers were removed. The vehicle proceeded to hit what the eyewitness said were “countless” people, describing it as a warzone. The eyewitness did not see the car stop. 

Who is Kai-Ji Adam Lo: Police have said there is no indication this was a terrorist attack. Lo was known to police, having had dozens of interactions with them, due to deteriorating mental health, including with health care professionals. His recent mental deterioration coincided after his brother died a year ago, according to the Vancouver Sun. A man was later charged with his brother’s murder. His mother attempted suicide months later and ended up in the hospital. 

• Lo had no prior criminal record. According to sources that spoke to Postmedia, family members contacted a psych ward hours before the attack. 

Leaders from around the world offered their condolences, including Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., federal and provincial party leaders, French President Emmanuel Macron and the German foreign minister. 

What they’re saying: Vancouver’s interim police chief Steve Rai called it “the darkest day in our city’s history” at a press conference on Sunday.

Background: Festivals in Vancouver have increasingly become a site of violence. Two years ago, the Light Up Chinatown! festival dealt with three people being stabbed by a man who was out on a day pass from a psychiatric facility.

A key similarity between those events was that people suffered from mental health issues. 

What it means: The increase in vehicles being used as weapons around the world is likely to continue due to the prevalence of vehicles and ease of access. In recent years, vehicles have been used as weapons in London, Toronto and Montreal. 

What comes next: In a senseless tragedy like this, we’re always quick to point the finger and find fault. There will of course, be time to look into what happened, as the mayor has promised a “full review” of safety measures around the festival, according to CityNews. It also opens up questions around how the police, medical professionals and government should deal with those suffering from mental illness like this. 

Geoff’s thoughts: Questions will be asked, and we will learn more in the coming days and months. But now is a time to mourn, a time to grieve for the people who lost their lives and the countless others who were injured. While it may be the city’s darkest day, after darkness comes the dawn. As we process the tragedy, there can be no doubt that the entire city will be there for the Filipino community and the many people impacted. Because that’s who and what Vancouver is.