Aerial views of 43rd Avenue in south Vancouver in the aftermath of a driving rampage that left at least 11 people dead and many others injured during the windup of the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party celebrating Filipino culture on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Photo by Curtis Kreklau /for Postmedia News
Vancouver Coastal Health says accused mass killer Kai-ji Adam Lo was under the care of a mental health team and on leave from hospital at the time of Saturday’s deadly festival attack in southeast Vancouver.
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In a statement, the health authority offered “its deepest condolences to the victims of the Lapu Lapu Day Festival, their families and the entire Filipino community during this incredibly challenging time.”
“VCH can confirm the alleged driver of the vehicle was under the care of a mental health team and on extended leave in accordance with the Mental Health Act,” the statement said.
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“Extended leave is intended to help clients maintain their treatment plans while transitioning back to community for ongoing support.”
The health authority statement claims “the care team followed established guidelines for a client on extended leave, and there was no indication this person was not following their treatment plan or presented a public safety risk.”
Postmedia media asked for more information from VCH, but they refused to provide answers.
Subject 37 of the B.C. Mental Health Act says that if a “director considers that leave would benefit a patient detained in the designated facility, the director may release the patient on leave from the designated facility providing appropriate support exists in the community to meet the conditions of the leave.”
But the act also says that the person can detained again if the conditions of their release in the community are not being met.
Postmedia first reported Sunday that someone close to Lo, 30, had contacted a psychiatric facility about him the same day as the attacks.
The scene around Fraser Street and 41st Avenue after someone drove into a crowd of people at Lapu Lapu Day in Vancouver on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Photo by Kim Bolan /PNG
Lo is facing eight counts of second-degree murder, but is expected to be charged with additional counts as the investigation progresses. Police had dozens of encounters with Lo over the years related to his mental health.
Vancouver Police Sgt. Steve Addison told reporters Monday that a neighbouring police agency, likely the RCMP, had dealt with Lo on April 25 but that the situation was not serious enough to warrant intervention.
Lo, who is believed to have suffered from delusions and paranoia, is charged with driving his 2018 Audi SUV through a crowd of people attending the Filipino festival on East 43rd Avenue, west of Fraser, just after 8 p.m. Saturday.
