Who Is Kai-Ji Adam Lo? Vancouver Suspect Behind Lapu Lapu Festival Tragedy
Kai-Ji Adam Lo, the 30-year-old man charged in the deadly vehicle attack at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Festival, has a background marked by tragedy and ongoing mental health struggles.
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Lo was arrested on April 26, 2025, after allegedly driving his SUV into a crowd at the Filipino cultural festival, killing at least 11 people and injuring more than two dozen. He has since been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, with police expecting additional charges.
A History of Struggles with Mental Health
Lo’s past is complicated by significant mental health challenges. Vancouver police confirmed that Lo had a history of interactions with both law enforcement and healthcare professionals related to his mental health. Neighbors reported frequent visits from police at his East Vancouver home, where Lo lived with his mother and brother.
The house, situated in the Victoria–Fraserview neighborhood, was occasionally the site of disturbances, with reports of yelling and signs of anxiety exhibited by Lo. One neighbor described Lo as “nervous” and “always scared of something happening that might hurt him.”
Acting Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai indicated that Lo’s mental health played a central role in the tragedy. Despite these ongoing issues, Lo’s actions remain largely unexplained, as police have not provided insight into what specifically motivated him to commit such a violent act.
@yuan22310 The Suspect who drove into crowd at Lapu Lapu Festival identified as 30-year-old Vancouver man #international #vancouver #canada #canad #filipino –#event #community #breakingnews #news #everyone #newsupdate #lapulapu #internacional original sound – 22
The Death of His Brother and Online Fundraising Efforts
Lo’s personal life has been marked by significant loss and hardship. His brother, Alexander Lo, was murdered in January 2024. This devastating event deeply affected Kai-Ji Adam Lo and his family. After his brother’s death, Lo launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral costs. He described the loss as both financially and emotionally shattering. The fundraiser raised over $9,000. Lo expressed profound grief and financial strain.
In his posts, Lo explained that his mother took out large loans to build a modest tiny home. The home faced construction issues and left them with a $213,000 structure full of alleged defects.
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Lo’s mother, Lisa, faced further trauma after attempting suicide following her son’s death. The family’s already dire situation worsened when she was hospitalized for weeks. The emotional and financial strain appeared to be overwhelming, with Lo stating in a GoFundMe post, “The realization that he’ll never return home pains both me and my financially strained mother.”
Troubling Signs and Police Intervention
Lo’s interactions with police were frequent in the months leading up to the tragic event. Police had visited the family’s home, including earlier in April 2025, when they requested security footage. While the family’s home appeared calm on the surface, neighbors reported hearing frequent verbal altercations, though they noted that the conflicts never seemed violent. One neighbor mentioned that Lo often appeared anxious, exhibiting clear signs of emotional distress.
Despite these warnings, it is unclear whether the authorities took sufficient action to intervene in Lo’s escalating mental health issues. The tragic festival attack serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of failing to adequately address mental health crises.
Family Background and Nationality
Lo’s family moved to Vancouver more than a decade ago, settling in the Victoria–Fraserview neighborhood. Lo’s Facebook account that seems to belong to Lo suggests he is originally from Kaohsiung, Taiwan. He, his brother Alexander, and their parents lived in the house, which was located just seven minutes away from the site of the festival attack. Neighbors recall the father’s passing due to illness shortly after they arrived in Vancouver, further deepening the family’s struggles.
The community knew Lo’s mother, Lisa, for her kindness and her engagement with neighbors, though language barriers often meant she communicated with them in Chinese. Despite their difficult circumstances, the Lo family tried to maintain a low profile in the neighborhood, but troubling signs, including frequent police visits and signs of mental distress from Lo, painted a picture of escalating personal turmoil.
The Attack at the Festival
The Lapu Lapu Festival, which celebrates Filipino culture and heritage, tragically ended when Lo drove his Audi Q7 into the crowd on East 43rd Avenue. Witnesses saw a man speeding through the crowd. Festival-goers held Lo until the police arrived. Despite the horror, Vancouver police quickly reassured the public that the attack was not terrorism-related. However, they have not clarified the exact motive behind the incident.
Lo’s trial will begin in October 2025. As more details about his background and mental health challenges emerge, the community continues to cope with the aftermath of this senseless tragedy.
Community Grief and Calls for Mental Health Support
Following the attack, Vancouver’s Filipino community has expressed deep sorrow. The city’s mayor and other political leaders have called for more mental health resources and intervention programs. They stress the need to support individuals like Lo before tragedies like this occur.
The Lapu Lapu Festival, a celebration of Filipino culture, tragically devastated many. Vancouver’s Interim Police Chief, Steve Rai, acknowledged the profound impact on the community, stating, “This is the darkest day in our city’s history.”
What’s Next?
The incident at the Lapu Lapu Festival is a heartbreaking reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and intervention. As the investigation progresses, authorities may uncover more details about Lo’s background and motivations. For now, the city and the Filipino community must cope with the aftermath of this senseless tragedy.
What do you think needs to change in Vancouver’s approach to mental health support and public safety? Share your thoughts in the comments.
More…
- https://vancouversun.com/news/driver-charged-8-counts-murder-vancouver-lapu-lapu-tragedy
- https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/multiple-dead-after-vehicle-drives-into-crowd-vancouver-street-festival-police-2025-04-27
- https://www.overheretoronto.com/vancouver-man-charged-with-8-counts-of-murder-in-lapu-lapu-day-festival-crash
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Who is Kai-Ji Adam?
Great article! I had done some research and wanted to share a bit of his background as well but didn’t know how to do it without minimizing the hurt and pain of the first victims.
But I believe that persons with mental health illness are also victims, so I’m really glad that you did the hard work and did it so well.
Thank you also for asking the question which could help to bring some changes to Vancouver’s mental health issues/crisis.
We’ve had lots of dialogue within the city but a tragedy like this might actually bring us closer to getting it right.
I’ve lived in Vancouver since 1977. I am an immigrant. My mum and aunt worked within the mental health sector for over 30+ years and growing up until my graduation in 1985, guess what I did for my summer jobs? Nepotism at its best back then.
I feel I have a good understanding of what’s happened in Vancouver.
1) Vancouver is a port city and drugs have been here for a long time, however the type and amount of drugs have changed.
We have lost a handle of drug use in the Vancouver mainland areas. And the drug user are sort of in a level. This is my interpretation and really just to help me differentiate the layers:
Level 3 – Across the skytrain station in New Westminster, on any night, you can see zombie-type persons laying in piles with rats running over them. Next to them, the shelter are open and doing everything they can to help, but for Level 3 care, this no longer is an option. They are unresponsive, after doing their drugs of choice freely, openly. During their waking hours, they defecating in front of businesses, running amok sometimes without clothing or have tantrums bringing trauma to our children, tourists or persons trying to make a living in the area.
Level 2 – Drive along Hastings st (from Main st towards Gastown) at any given time of daily or day of week, you will find a city of tents, shelters created by people who suffer from long term level 3 drug use and/or long term mental illness, who not surprisingly have in their ‘frame-of-mind’, rejected any support from government and family/friends and have decided to build a city within, a city of ‘like-minded’ people. You can also find this level in Langley by the Kwantlen University Campus, New Westminster on Front st by what used to be the Army and Navy parking lot and many other places peppered around the lower mainland.
Everyone agrees this is part of our housing/homeless crisis but if you pull the layers farther back, it is a mental health issue first. The decisions a person makes with mental health issues will contribute to the consequences of those disabilities.
Level 1 – Kids who have been diagnosed abd have lived in a supported family unit turn 18 and now no longer have the same support because of their age. Their parents struggle to keep up as well, as everything changes once they turn 18. The biggest problem is that the parents loose the ‘right’ to help, guide and advocate. This is a huge deal. Image if you have looked after your kid; you know the ins and outs of the system and have learned how to be savvy in navigating different agencies on their behalf and now your kid turns 18 and you no longer have the right.
Now let’s imagine a very typical scene: you have a fight. It usually starts right there, a fight. The kid takes off and you can’t get help anymore. Imagine also that the kid is so mad, (he doesn’t want to be told what to do anymore) add depression and anxiety as well as missing their scheduled meds and voila, you have the perfect storm. As much as they want their ‘freedom’, they are not equipped enough. They might end up in any numerous scenarios but unless the are capable of giving consent for their loved ones to act on their behalf, this is the gateway to level 2.
2) Laws need to change regarding age of consent for persons diagnosed with any form of mental illness and /or change the laws regarding family rights to advocate for their kids.
And if this is already happening then educated Everyone about it. Make it common knowledge.
There needs to be a safety net for families who have a mentally ill member and who want to help them.
This needs to be established with a long-play in mind. An agency who shepherds families on an ongoing basis (for a life-time if necessary) to avoid lapses, re-sets of internal changes.
3) Make changes to our immigration/ education / house purchasing laws.
Many families don’t want to have police involvement or scenarios which may jeopardize their PR bid etc. however, this also makes it more difficult for families to get the help they need. There are language and cultural barriers to consider.
In the case of Mr.Lo’s Family, I wonder how much those two points played a role in getting / giving help?
Vancouver is an immigration city and we need to cater to our immigrants. We have made great strides but we need to do much more.
We need laws protecting children/ youth being dropped off in houses bought by their parents (as investments) so they can get perhaps cheaper resident but definitely Western educated.
These kids suffer from loneliness, anxiety and depression.
The parents via zoom, keep tabs on their kids. They fly in for parent//teacher interviews, graduations and visits but this is definitely a different family culture than what I would consider normal.
How does this culture affect a kid growing up with others who have a completely different childhood?
I haven’t done any research on any of this.
I have witnessed the empty houses where youth are ‘living ‘, by themselves trying to ‘please’ their wealthy parents. Are they too old to be considered kids, or too young to be allowed to navigate this country in their own?
I have heard about soccer parents’ struggles with their growing kids.
I have seen all of what I’ve described on our streets as recent as a few weeks ago. And sadly I have collectively grieved over a classmate when he was killed by his brother who took the life of everyone in his family because he had stopped taking his meds for schizophrenia. 1983- Coquitlam (Blackman).
Perhaps it triggered me to find out why someone would do this because back then, there was a lack of information on the whole and we were all grasping for understanding. It was whispered that he was known ‘to do drugs’ but we didn’t learn about his mental illness until later and not surprising, he was no longer living at home.
Also, I’d like to add that from 1977-2000 my family’s stomping ground was 41st and Fraser. I worked on Fraser Street (at the former Edelweiss Credit Union) for many years. The father of my (3) grown kids, my ex, graduated from John Oliver Sr Sec and my kids learned to walk and bike ride along the Fraser cemetery. I am of German descent and Fraser st was once known as little Germany because a lot of Swiss, German, Austrian immigrants and Mennonites did their grocery shopping and worshiping there. It now resembles nothing of what once was and it saddens me further that my father-in-law’s was laid to rest in such close proximity.
Maybe you have the resources to bring some of these issues further into the light.
Good luck and thank you for asking the questions.
Sincerely,
Christina
Mental illness is not an excuse for the cruelty, heartless and unspeakable actions that Kai-Ji Adam Lo did that day. That is a 30yr old man that made the conscious premeditated decision to run over innocent people. The lives he took has nothing significant to do with his own daily existence. But he was selfish and killed them for his own gratification. May the law of the land give him the highest amount of consequence for the children he robbed of their futures, the other people’s lives he took, the injured that will never function and live with pain, and the families and friends that will never see their loved ones again because of Kai-Ji Adam Lo.