On April 27th, during the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver, an SUV crashed into a crowd, resulting in at least 11 deaths.

The driver of the vehicle has been identified as Kai-Ji Adam Lo, a 30-year-old Chinese man. Police stated that his mental state rapidly deteriorated after his brother was murdered last year and his mother subsequently attempted suicide, and he now faces eight counts of second-degree murder, with more charges expected to be added.

Currently, Mr. Lo has been detained pending further processing.

According to police, Mr. Lo had previously come into contact with law enforcement on certain occasions and had mental health issues. The investigation has ruled out any terrorist attack motive. That night, Mr. Lo appeared to be in a delusional and paranoid state.

Since the murder of his brother Alexander last year, Mr. Lo's mental condition has continued to deteriorate, with over dozens of contacts with the police.

According to police reports, the accident has resulted in 11 deaths, with victims ranging in age from 5 to 65 years old, but some victim identities remain unconfirmed.

Although Mr. Lo had no criminal record, eyewitnesses said that after the incident, he apologized to those present. At the time, many families and neighbors rushed forward to help, but it was too late to prevent the tragedy.

According to The Globe and Mail, shortly after Mr. Lo's family moved into their new home in Vancouver, his father passed away. Then, on January 28th, 2024, at 1 a.m., Alexander, 31, was killed in his home.

Alexander, 31, was killed in his home

The suspect, Dwight William Kematch, 39, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

After Alexander's death, Mr. Lo launched a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe to cover Alexander's funeral expenses. He wrote on the page: "Our reality has been torn apart by sudden violence. Although we had differences before, the pain of losing him is indescribable."

Just months later, Mr. Lo launched another fundraising campaign, this time because his mother, devastated by grief, attempted suicide and spent a month in the hospital. He wrote: "My mother's grief far surpasses mine. She lost her son and now faces the loss of her home. This blow drove her to despair."

Afterward, Mr. Lo had multiple contacts with the police and medical institutions. Neighbors revealed that the police even visited two weeks prior to the incident to obtain surveillance footage. Neighbors described hearing heated arguments between him and his mother in his home, saying he always seemed tense, as if fearing being harmed.

According to The Vancouver Sun, on the day of the incident, Mr. Lo's family even contacted a psychiatric hospital for help.

Videos from the scene showed victims and injured people scattered around, with food trucks parked along both sides of the street. The front of the Audi SUV was severely damaged.

Witnesses described how the driver had brushed against another car before accelerating into the crowd. Kris Pangilinan, a clothing stall owner, recalled: "He pressed the gas pedal hard, and the sound was like a race car starting. The next moment, there were people flying everywhere, like bowling pins scattering in all directions."

Another merchant, James Cruzat, said he heard a loud noise after the engine roared. Initially, he thought it was gunfire. "People were crying and running for help on the street. There were fallen bodies everywhere, some already lifeless," he said.

As more details about Mr. Lo's background came to light, Canadian officials called for strengthening the mental health intervention system.

David Eby, Premier of British Columbia, stated: "We urgently need to strengthen crisis-intervention mental health services." He emphasized that the investigation into this tragedy must remain open-minded, "uncovering all truths to ensure that similar tragedies can be prevented in the future."

Mr. Eby pointed out that it remains unclear what led Mr. Lo to extreme behavior. "Too many questions remain unanswered. As the truth emerges, we will take necessary actions to ensure such tragedies do not happen again."

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7498497816629871156/

Disclaimer: This article represents the author's personal views. Please express your opinions by clicking the "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" buttons below.