Vancouver Lapu Lapu attack suspect pleads not guilty to 42 charges

Nov 3 2026, 11:29 pm

The suspect involved in the deadly attack that killed 11 people and injured dozens at the Lapu Lapu Day festival in April 2025 has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Adam Kai-Ji Lo is charged with 11 counts of second-degree murder and 31 counts of attempted murder. He is accused of driving an SUV into the crowd gathered for the Lapu Lapu Day festival on April 26, 2025, near Fraser Street and East 43rd Avenue, which police would later call the “darkest day” in Vancouver’s history.

Vancouver lapu lapu festival incident april 27

Police tape at the scene, a day after a vehicle plowed through a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver. (Daniel Chai/ Daily Hive)

Damienne Darby, the communications counsel with the BC Prosecution Service, told Daily Hive in an email that Lo pleaded not guilty to all 42 of the charges on Nov. 2.

Darby said pre-trial applications are currently underway and expected to continue until mid-March of next year.

The trial is expected to begin on April 19, 2027, at Vancouver Law Courts, and last for four months.

Lo was known to the police and healthcare professionals prior to the attack.

After the attack

Vancouver Lapu Lapu

Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive

Following the attack, the City of Vancouver and VPD released a review of outdoor special event planning and safety, which included recommendations to strengthen coordination and public safety for future events.

The report also focused on several ways to mitigate hostile vehicles like the one used to plow through a crowd at the Vancouver street festival celebrating the Filipino community.

With files from Daily Hive staff

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