Man with Extensive Police History Arrested After Allegedly Driving Into Crowd at Vancouver Filipino Festival
On April 26, 2025, a devastating incident unfolded at Vancouver's Lapu Lapu Day Filipino festival when a 30-year-old man drove a black Audi SUV into a crowd of attendees, resulting in 11 fatalities and injuring over 20 others. The suspect, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, was apprehended at the scene by bystanders before police arrived. Authorities have confirmed that he had a significant history of interactions with police and mental health professionals.
The festival, celebrating Filipino heritage and honoring 16th-century anti-colonial leader Datu Lapu-Lapu, was attended by thousands. The attack occurred around 8:14 p.m. local time, shortly after barriers were temporarily removed during event cleanup. Witnesses described scenes of chaos and horror, noting the vehicle appeared to deliberately speed into the crowd.
Vancouver Police have ruled out terrorism as a motive, stating that the suspect acted alone. The investigation is ongoing, with no charges formally laid as of Sunday morning.
In response to the tragedy, public officials, including Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to the victims' families and the Filipino Canadian community.
This incident has sparked widespread mourning and raised concerns about public safety and mental health support systems. As the community grapples with this senseless act of violence, authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.
