Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day festival, a vibrant celebration of Filipino heritage, turned into a scene of carnage on April 26 when a 20-year-old man barreled an SUV into a crowd, leaving nine dead and more than 20 injured. The annual event, held at East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street, was packed with families, food stalls, and music when the vehicle tore through just after 8 p.m., scattering bodies and shattering the night.
Police swarmed the scene, cordoning off the blood-streaked street as paramedics fought to save the wounded. The driver, whose name hasn’t been released, was arrested on the spot. Authorities haven’t pinned down a motive yet, but they’re digging into whether it was deliberate or a freak accident. The suspect, described only as a local man, is in custody while investigators comb through witness accounts and security footage.
Victims, ranging from kids to grandparents, were rushed to hospitals across the city. Some are still clinging to life, with injuries from broken bones to severe trauma. The festival, meant to honor the Filipino hero Lapu Lapu, was in full swing—think sizzling barbecue, kids dancing, and flags waving—when the SUV roared in, leaving chaos in its wake. Witnesses described a gut-wrenching screech of tires, then screams as people dove for cover or got pinned under the vehicle.
City officials are reeling. Vancouver’s mayor, in a brief statement, called it a “devastating tragedy” and vowed support for the victims’ families. Police have ruled out any immediate link to terrorism but aren’t closing off possibilities. They’re urging anyone with video or photos from the festival to come forward. The investigation is moving fast, with forensic teams scouring the mangled SUV for clues.
For Vancouver’s tight-knit Filipino community, the festival was a point of pride, a day to celebrate roots and resilience. Now, it’s a wound. Memorials are already sprouting near the site—flowers, candles, handwritten notes. The city’s promised counseling services and a hotline for those grappling with the shock.
Nine people are confirmed dead. More than 20 are injured, some critically. The driver is in custody. The investigation is ongoing.