Lapu-Lapu Day attack suspect now facing 11 charges

Police in Vancouver say the suspect in the April 26 vehicle-ramming attack on a Filipino street festival is now facing as many charges as the number of victims he is accused of killing.

For months, 30-year-old Adam Kai-Ji Lo had only been facing eight charges. The VPD says Lo is facing 11 charges as of Tuesday morning.

“The additional charges were approved by the BC Prosecution Service following a review of evidence submitted by Vancouver Police Homicide investigators,” said police.

 Sgt. Steve Addison explains that the three additional charges were approved due to the continuous investigation.

“We have continued with our investigation, and over the course of the past three months, we presented additional evidence and information to Crown Counsel,” Addison said in an interview with The Leader Spirit.

“Crown Counsel has done their independent charge assessment process, and ultimately concluded that the evidence supports delaying three additional second-degree murder charges.”

Sgt. Addison could not provide an exact explanation for why the BC Prosecution Service initially brought forward eight charges, even though 11 people were killed in the vehicle-ramming attack.

“The police do not have the authority to lay criminal charges in British Columbia. We trust that Crown Counsel will undertake a thorough and methodical charge assessment, charge approval process, and determine what charges are delayed, what charges are the most appropriate to lay, and when to lay those charges,” Addison said.

The alleged suspect, Adam Kai-Ji Lo, remains in custody.

Filipino BC Chair RJ Aquino welcomes that additional charges were laid.

“We know and recognize that a lot of people were waiting to see those additional charges, but we are still a long way from justice,” said RJ Aquino.

“It provides some answers, it provides a sense of progress.”

However, RJ Aquino warns that this recent development is “re-traumatizing.”

“This is going to be re-traumatizing for a lot of people. They are making strides towards recovery, and something like these court proceedings pulls them right back to April 26,” RJ Aquino explained.

“Definitely a lot of emotions from the news today, and then we just want to make sure that we are taking care of each other.”

In May, a provincial judge ordered a hearing to determine whether Lo is fit to stand trial.

Lo’s defence team requested the hearing, in light of a mental health assessment, and the crown agreed there are reasonable grounds that Lo is not fit to stand trial.

The upcoming hearing to determine if he is fit to stand trial is expected to begin Wednesday and last two days.