Police Investigate Deadly Attack at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day Festival

Police Investigate Deadly Attack At Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day Festival

A celebration of Filipino heritage in Vancouver turned into a nightmare when a black Audi SUV plowed into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day festival. Nine dead, dozens injured, and a community in shock.

At around 9 PM on April 26, 2025, the festival—celebrating Datu Lapu-Lapu, the Filipino hero who fought off Spanish colonizers—was tragically hijacked by violence. The car came out of nowhere, slamming into festivalgoers just as the event was winding down.

It’s a scene straight out of a nightmare. Witnesses say the chaos was insane, with bodies sprawled across the festival grounds and food trucks turned into makeshift shelters. People were in panic mode, scrambling to help.

“People were screaming, running. It was complete mayhem,” one eyewitness told AP News. “I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”

The suspect? A 30-year-old man known to police, caught by bystanders before officers could even get there. Authorities haven’t released his name yet, but they’re making it clear terrorism isn’t the motive here. They’re digging into the guy’s background—expect more details soon.

Meanwhile, political leaders, including Canadian PM Mark Carney and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., are sending their condolences. They’re not just offering thoughts and prayers—they’re pledging full support to the Filipino community, who’s absolutely rattled by this horrific attack.

“This tragedy has deeply affected our community,” said community leader Maria Santos. “The Filipino people here in Vancouver are strong, but this… this is too much.”

The festival, which just minutes before had featured an electric performance by apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas, had all the usual fun—music, food, dancing. But now, it’s known for something else: a brutal attack that’s left scars no one will forget.

Vancouver’s Filipino community, which makes up nearly 6% of the city’s population, is shaken to its core. But they’re resilient—and they’re coming together in the face of this tragedy.

This attack has left people asking: how safe are we at these big public events? It’s a question that hits too close to home after the 2018 van attack in Toronto. People are scared. They’re looking over their shoulders.

For now, the investigation is ongoing, but we’re sure of one thing: this isn’t going to be swept under the rug.

Video of the car used in the driving rampage into a crowd in Vancouver Canada 🇨🇦 that has killed NINE people and inured many. Heartbreaking 💔 pic.twitter.com/Y9UnV28Hth

— Melissa 🇨🇦 (@MelissaLMRogers) April 27, 2025

Also read: Tornadoes Strike Near St. Louis Prompting Warnings and Storm Damage