Man charged in deadly Lapu-Lapu Day festival rampage was under Mental Health Act supervision

A mental health team was overseeing the man charged with murder in connection with a horrific incident at a Vancouver street festival Saturday that left 11 people dead and many more wounded, according to B.C.'s Ministry of Health.

In a statement released Tuesday, a spokesperson for the ministry said Kai-Ji Adam Lo was under the care of Vancouver Coastal Health's mental health team and was "being supervised under the Mental Health Act" at the time of the tragedy.

"The individual was being followed closely by his care team. VCH will continue to review the file, but at this time, the best known information at VCH is that there was no indication of violence in this individual's presentation to the VCH team," the statement said.

"To the care team's knowledge, there was no recent change in his condition or noncompliance with his treatment plan that would've warranted him needing to be hospitalized involuntarily."

'Alternative to psychiatric hospitalization'

Lo faces eight counts of murder in connection with the death, which occurred after he allegedly drove a black Audi into the crowd gathered in East Vancouver to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day.

The 30-year-old is currently in custody, awaiting a court appearance on May 26. Police have said more charges are possible.

The victims range in age from five to 65 years old. According to health officials, 16 people remain in hospital, some of them in critical condition. Another 13 have been discharged with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police have said that Lo had a significant history of mental health interactions with officers in the months prior to the incident, and confirmed that he came in contact with authorities in a neighbouring jurisdiction the day before the attack.

The exact nature of his mental health struggles is unknown.

British Columbia's Mental Health Act allows for both voluntary and involuntary treatment for individuals dealing with mental health concerns. In extreme cases, people can be placed in hospital against their will through police or a court order.

Vancouver Coastal Health's website says adult mental health teams provide "community-based assessment and treatment for adults who are diagnosed with a serious and persistent major mental disorder and experiencing significant problems that interfere with their functioning in daily life."

The website says clients fall into one of two categories: "schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders" or "mood disorders," such as "bipolar and major depressive disorders."

'An overwhelming force'

In a series of online posts to social media and a fundraising campaign in the months prior to the campaign, Lo spoke about the pain of losing his 31-year-old brother last year.

Alexander Lo was allegedly murdered in January 2024; Dwight William Kematch is charged with second-degree murder in the case, and a B.C. Supreme Court trial is currently set to begin in October 2026.

"Our reality has abruptly shifted. Despite our disagreements, the harsh truth that he's no longer with us hits me with an overwhelming force," Lo wrote as part of a plea to help with funds for his brother's funeral.

According to property records obtained by CBC, Lo and his mother share an East Vancouver house a short distance away from the location where he would later be arrested by police.

The pair are also listed as debtors in relation to a 2018 Audi Q7 Progressiv.

According to provincial court records, the pair were dealing with financial pressures related to the construction of a $213,000 laneway home and had sued a contractor in relation to the project.

Lo later started another campaign to raise funds for his mother after he claimed to have found her unconscious, writing: "I feared I had lost the only family member I have left ... I cannot stand to see her suffer anymore, and there's nothing I can do to help her."

Both of the fundraising campaigns Lo posted in the past year have been taken down since he was charged in connection with the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy.