Vancouver’s Filipino community, along with the rest of the city, is bracing itself for a long legal journey after a provincial court judge ruled on September 10, 2025, that Adam Kai-Ji Lo is mentally fit to stand trial for the devastating attack at the Lapu Lapu Day festival earlier this year. The incident, which occurred on April 26, 2025, left 11 people dead and dozens more injured when an SUV plowed through a bustling crowd celebrating Filipino heritage in the heart of Vancouver.
According to The Canadian Press, Lo, 30, appeared via video link from a forensic psychiatric facility, dressed in a dark blue sweatsuit, as Judge Reginald P. Harris delivered his decision. The judge stated, “Specifically, he’s able to conduct his defence. He knows the nature and the object and consequences of the proceedings. Further, he is able and willing to communicate with his lawyer.” With this, Lo will now face 11 counts of second-degree murder and 31 additional counts of attempted murder—charges that reflect the scale of loss and trauma inflicted upon the community.
The new charges, as detailed by Vancouver Chief Constable Steve Rai, are “in relation to the surviving victims of the attack.” Rai called the development “another step toward answers and accountability in one of the most horrific incidents our city has ever faced.” He added, “I have deep gratitude to all of the Vancouver Police personnel who have investigated this mass casualty incident, and I thank the BC Prosecution Service for its diligence during the charge-assessment process.”
For those impacted by the tragedy, the news brought mixed emotions. Kristina Corpin-Moser, executive director of Filipino BC, an advocacy group dedicated to supporting Filipino Canadians, told reporters outside the courthouse that the ruling brought “a great deal of relief” to the community. “I think most people in the community—many people in the community—want to see this go to trial and so I think that is why this brings relief to the community in terms of getting a fit-to-stand-trial ruling today,” she explained. Still, she acknowledged a sense of anxiety, noting that this marks only the beginning of what is likely to be a lengthy and emotionally taxing process.
The attack, which Mayor Ken Sim described as “the darkest day in the history of Vancouver,” sent shockwaves throughout the city and prompted an immediate review of public safety protocols for large events. The safety review, released just a week prior to the judge’s ruling, found that festival organizers had followed all required protocols and that the risk for a major public safety incident had been assessed as low. Nevertheless, the tragedy has forced city officials to reconsider how best to protect residents during public gatherings.
The legal proceedings leading up to the fitness ruling were extensive. Over the summer, two forensic psychiatrists—one representing the Crown and another for the defense—were called as expert witnesses to evaluate Lo’s mental state. The hearings, which included legal arguments from defense lawyer Mark Swartz and Crown prosecutor Michaela Donnelly, were subject to a publication ban. This ban, which remains in place, prevents the media from reporting on the specific evidence and reasons behind the judge’s decision regarding Lo’s fitness to stand trial. A media consortium, including The Canadian Press, has challenged the ban, but a decision on that application has been delayed.
Judge Harris was unequivocal in his assessment: “He’s able to conduct his defense. He knows the nature and the consequences of the proceedings. He is able and willing to communicate with his lawyer.” With that, Lo was ordered to remain detained at the forensic psychiatric facility while awaiting trial.
The distinction between being fit to stand trial and being criminally responsible was highlighted by Isabel Grant, a professor at the Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia. She clarified for Inquirer.net that, “Fitness is looking at… his mental state at the time of the trial and whether he is able to participate in his trial. NCR [Not Criminally Responsible] is looking at his mental state at the time of the crimes. Did he appreciate the consequences of his actions, that driving into a group of people was going to cause their deaths? Did he know that driving into these victims was something that society would think he ought not to do?”
This means that while Lo has been found fit to stand trial, his defense may still argue that he was not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder at the time of the attack. Such a defense, if successful, could alter the course of the legal proceedings and the eventual outcome.
The Ministry of Attorney General, in a statement, refrained from commenting directly on the matter due to its ongoing status in the courts. However, the ministry expressed hope that the legal process would “bring forward the answers so many are seeking.” The statement added, “Our hearts are with the victims, and everyone affected by this unimaginable violence.”
As the city comes to terms with the long shadow cast by the Lapu Lapu Day festival tragedy, attention is also turning to the broader implications for public safety. In response to the attack, Vancouver officials have begun considering permanent vehicle barriers and other security measures at major public events. The sense of urgency is palpable, as many residents wonder how such a tragedy could have occurred despite all protocols being followed.
For Mayor Ken Sim, the path forward is clear. “It is good to know that the victims, their families and the surrounding community will have the chance to receive justice for the tragic act of violence on April 26,” he said. Sim’s words echo the sentiments of many who hope that the legal process will not only deliver justice but also help the city heal.
As the case proceeds, the eyes of Vancouver—and indeed, all of Canada—will remain fixed on the courtroom. The coming months promise to be challenging for survivors, families of the victims, and the broader community. But for now, the ruling that Adam Kai-Ji Lo is fit to stand trial marks a significant—and necessary—step toward accountability and, perhaps, some measure of closure.
