Wednesday April 30, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC [Posted at 4 pm PT | Updated at 5:15 pm and 11:55 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
CLICK HERE FOR: ONLINE BOOK OF CONDOLENCES for VICTIMS of the LAPU LAPU TRAGEDY
On Tuesday morning after the federal election — and when pretty much everyone across BC was still raw with emotion about the killing of people at a community gathering in Vancouver last Saturday evening — Premier David Eby held a press conference outside the legislature.
He addressed both the mass crowd attack that happened at the Lapu Lapu Neighbourhood Festival just after 8 pm on Saturday evening April 26 (an SUV was driven into people on a crowded side street) as well as the results of the federal election (congratulating the Liberal leader on his succss).
Eby’s commentary about the mass crowd attack on April 26 was about four minutes long. [See the Premier’s full comments below /scroll down]
BC will hold a public inquiry:
The primary action that the province will take in response to the horrific Saturday night attack is to hold a public inquiry. And that it will happen fast … with answers by June, said Eby.
In the attack that was carried out by a 30-year-old man Kai-Ji Adam Lo (who it’s been revealed has been under some sort of Vancouver Coastal Health Authority program of care under the Mental Health Act), there were 11 people killed and at least 32 people injured (taken by ambulance from the scene to nine hospitals).
It was revealed this week that Lo was on leave from involuntary care, prompting Premier Eby this week to call for a review of the Mental Health Act. It’s becoming more evident that medical and social work professionals need more public policy guidance.
Lo is also ‘known to police’ with about 100 entries on police file for mental-health-related incidents, but apparently none of the incidents were serious enough to apprehend him under the Mental Health Act.
“I want this guy prosecuted, convicted and in jail,” Eby told media today.
Injured still in hospital:
As of today, Vancouver Police report that 16 people remain in hospital; five are in critical condition and one is in serious condition.
Police said on the following day that not all impacted persons had yet been identified, but now all people have been identified including nationalities. More people may in fact be injured who were not taken to hospital on the evening of the attack, it was stated by officials over the past few days.
Some names of the deceased and injured have started to be released, including a couple and their five-year-old daughter (leaving behind a 16-year-old son), a school teacher’s assistant, a mother of two, and more. Many of the people impacted are members of the Filipino community that this past weekend was celebrating their culture in Canada as their home.
Witnesses at the event are also traumatized — some of them telling their experience to media over the past few days.
Eby calls SUV driver a murderer:
Issues of involuntary care came up again. Eby bluntly referred to the driver Kai-Ji Adam Lo as a “murderer of children and seniors”. Ages of the deceased range from five to 65, it was revealed by Vancouver Police this past weekend.
But Eby told media it will be important to determine the person’s “state of mind, their interactions with the system…. I think that information will come up. Vancouver Coastal Health encouraged the health minister to release all of the information they feel they can under our provincial laws, so that British Columbians have as much information as possible without compromising the overall police investigation.”
Vancouver May Ken Sim wants action including support from the province as to use of the Mental Health Act for involuntary care for people who require help for serious mental health conditions.
Day of Remembrance and Mourning:
The Province of British Columbia has declared Friday May 2, 2025 as an official day of remembrance and mourning for the victims of the tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver on April 26, 2025.
There is also an online book of condolences.
Premier Eby’s Statement about the Crowd Attack
As delivered April 29, 2025 on the front steps of the BC Parliament Buildings
“In the last couple of days organizers and community members (have been dealing with the impacts) and the community is quite devastated, obviously. People are still finding out information about loved ones who are in hospital or who were killed. And I think for all of us seeing those photos and hearing the stories of the families… for me the family with the 5-year-old and the now orphaned 16-year-old is really … leaves most of us without words,” said Eby, referring to “the brutality of these killings”.
“I know that British Columbians want answers. I want answers. I support the efforts of the police in finding those answers for British Columbians. I am committed, the government is committed, my colleagues are committed, to getting all of the answers for British Columbians, about how this could possibly have happened… who this individual was, what happened with the time leading up to his horrific attack, and how we can move forward.”
“If the criminal investigation and trial is unable to find British Columbians the answer that we need, then the provincial government will call a public inquiry and ensure that we get all of the answers that we’re looking for,” said Eby.
He added: “Ensuring justice for the Filipino community, ensuring that this man is held and tried and convicted for these murders.”
“In the interim I know that there are people looking for answers and advice and information. Anyone thinking of hosting a public event, over the summer, bringing British Columbians together to celebrate. What do we need to do? How do we plan for this? What if this happens to us? And we can’t wait to get those answers,” said Eby.
“So we will hold an independent commission. It will be quick turnaround. Gathering information on best practices in other jurisdictions, understanding from police in Vancouver, across the province and internationally — how best to practically secure events and minimize risk to the public. so that people can feel safe and comfortable attending and celebrating with their communities this summer in British Columbia.”
“My hope is that the Commission will have full answers for organizers, for cities big and small across the province, by June,” said Eby.
“So that organizers can go ahead and plan and be prepared to do what they can to minimize risks to the public, and allow us to gather and celebrate as we need to. It’s so important for British Columbia,” the Premier said.
He wrapped up his remarks by directly addressing those who are in hospital, those who have lost loved ones. “We stand with you in the legislature today. We will be standing united with all parties reflecting on the horror of this moment, the challenge and the tribulations that you’re going through and our shared commitment to stand with you in your moment of suffering, to stand with the whole Filipino community.”
“The Filipino community in this province has given us so much. They’ve cared for so many people. And it’s our turn to care for you and that’s what we’ll do.”
===== RELATED:
- BC Premier congratulates prime minister-elect Carney and thanks outgoing NDP leader Singh (April 29, 2025)
- ICBC insurance supports for people impacted by Lapu-Lapu vehicle crash tragedy (April 27, 2025)
- Vancouver crowd attack killed 11 people ages 5 to 65, looking to mental health solutions (April 27, 2025)
- Vancouver Police update on vehicle-impact crowd attack: 11 deaths, more expected (April 27, 2025)
- Driver into crowd at Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver causes deaths and injuries (April 26, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTION 2025 | CANADA-NATIONAL | HEALTH | MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTIONS