Suspect charged for Vancouver car attack that killed 11

Prosecutors in British Columbia on Sunday charged 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo with eight counts of second-degree murder for allegedly ramming his car into a crowd of people Saturday night. Community members were gathered for the Lapu Lapu Day Filipino heritage festival when the suspect drove an SUV into the area, killing 11 attendees and injuring dozens of others. Authorities had not released the names of the victims as of Monday morning but said they ranged in age from 5-65. Lo had not filed a plea in the case as of Monday morning.

What motivated such a vicious attack? The incident is not considered a terrorist attack, said Deputy Chief Constable for the Vancouver Police Department Steve Rai. Lo had a history of mental illness and had several encounters with police before the incident, Rai said. Bystanders at the festival apprehended the suspect after the attack, Rai said, and held him until police arrested him. Authorities will likely file more charges as the investigation continues and the remaining victims are identified. 

Dig deeper: Read Kevin DeYoung’s opinion column on how Christians grapple with tragedy.