VIDEO: Accused in festival massacre charged with 8 counts of murder after at least 11 killed, many more injured at Filipino festival

Kai-ji Adam Lo, 30, is well-known to police due to several interactions with officers in recent months connected to mental health issues

The man accused with killing at least 11 people in a massacre at a Filipino festival on Saturday, April 26, 2025, is so far charged with eight counts of murder, and there are reports he was in the midst of a schizophrenic episode when it happened.

What is clear is that he has had multiple interactions with police in recent months, his brother was murdered last year, and his mother attempted suicide.

Lo is lucky the civilians who detained him after he drove a black Audi SUV through crowds at the Lapu Lapu festival at East 41st and Fraser Street did not hurt him. Several images and videos of the detention show Lo up against a chain-link fence, at least one security guarding in front of him, with people gathering around, taking videos, yelling things.

One many in the video yells at Lo, he looks at the man, and the man points his finger at his own head, usually a gesture symbolizing a gun or as an accusation of mental health problems.

"You killed a two-year-old," one person is heard yelling in the video posted below.

"You hurt a lot of people tonight," another said.

Expert crime reporter Kim Bolan of the Vancouver Sun reported Monday about Lo's words posted online after his brother, Alexander Lo, was murdered and found in a home near Knight Street and East 33rd Avenue on Jan. 28, 2024.

Bolan reported that Lo wrote on a fundraising page to cover his brother’s funeral costs that “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.”

“Our reality has abruptly shifted. Despite our disagreements, the harsh truth that he’s no longer with us hits me with an overwhelming force.”

Dwight William Kematch, 39, was charged with second-degree murder in the case of Alexander Lo's murder. That case is still before the BC Supreme Court.

Adam Lo is charged so far with eight counts of murder, which will most likely be second-degree murder. His file lists the eight counts under section 235(1) of the criminal code, which covers both first-degree and second-degree murder.

He will appear in Vancouver provincial court on Monday and likely will be detained until a bail hearing, which will also likely involve psychiatric examinations.

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Paul J. Henderson
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Arrest and Charges: Festival-goers apprehended Lo, holding him against a fence until Vancouver Police arrested him at the scene. He faces eight counts of second-degree murder, with further charges possible, and remains in custody after a court appearance on April 27, 2025, without requesting bail. He faces potential life imprisonment.

Nationality and Background: Lo’s nationality isn’t specified, but he resides in Vancouver, and his name suggests possible East Asian (Chinese) descent. He has no criminal record but a history of mental health issues, exacerbated by his brother Alexander’s murder in January 2024 and his mother’s suicide attempt in August 2024. His family raised concerns about his mental health hours before the attack.

Motive and Investigation: Police ruled out terrorism, attributing the attack to Lo’s mental health struggles. The investigation continues, with focus on his mental state and the lack of prior threat indicators, sparking discussions on festival security gaps.

Community Impact: The attack deeply affected Vancouver’s Filipino community, with vigils held and condolences from leaders like Premier David Eby and Mayor Ken Sim.