A victim lies near a food truck after a car drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver on Saturday April 26, 2025. There has been a number of fatalities and numerous injuries. Photo by Rich Lam Rich Lam/The Canadian /The Canadian Press

The man who allegedly plowed through a crowd enjoying a Filipino festival in southeast Vancouver Sunday, killing 11, lost his brother to murder last year.

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Kai-ji Adam Lo, charged Sunday with eight counts of murder, had dozens of interactions with police related to his deteriorating mental health.

Last year he wrote on a fundraising page to cover his brother Alexander’s funeral costs that “it pains me deeply to put these words down, but my brother has been taken from us in a senseless act of violence, something we never saw coming.”

“Our reality has abruptly shifted. Despite our disagreements, the harsh truth that he’s no longer with us hits me with an overwhelming force,” Adam Lo said.

The body of Alexander Lo, 31, was found in a home near Knight Street and East 33rd Avenue about 1 a.m. on Jan. 28, 2024.

Dwight William Kematch, 39, was arrested at the house and later charged with second-degree murder.

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2. Police along 41st Avenue, west of Fraser, after someone drove into a crowd of people at Lapu Lapu Day in Vancouver. Photo by Kim Bolan /PNG
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4. Vancouver Police secure the scene where a car drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day in Vancouver on Saturday April 26, 2025. Photo by Rich Lam /The Canadian Press
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6. Vancouver police investigate a crime scene after a man drove into pedestrians at the annual Lapu Lapu festival celebrating Filipino culture, at East 43rd Avenue and Fraser, in the south of Vancouver on April 26, 2025. Canadian police arrested a man on April 26 after a car plowed into a street party in the western city of Vancouver killing a number of people. Authorities said the incident happened shortly after 8:00 pm (0300 GMT Sunday) in Vancouver’s Sunset on Fraser neighborhood as members of the Filipino community gathered to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day. Photo by DON MACKINNON/AFP via Getty Images)
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8. Vancouver police investigate a crime scene after a man drove into pedestrians at the annual Lapu Lapu festival celebrating Filipino culture, at East 43rd Avenue and Fraser, in the south of Vancouver on April 26, 2025. Canadian police arrested a man on April 26 after a car plowed into a street party in the western city of Vancouver killing a number of people. Authorities said the incident happened shortly after 8 p.m. in Vancouver’s Sunset on Fraser neighbourhood as members of the Filipino community gathered to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day. Photo by DON MACKINNON/AFP via Getty Images)
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10. Steve Rai, Vancouver Police interim police chief, speaks during a news conference that there had been a vehicle and a suspect involved in an incident at the annual Lapu Lapu festival celebrating Filipino culture, at East 43rd Avenue and Fraser, in the south of Vancouver on April 26, 2025. Canadian police arrested a man on April 26 after a car plowed into a street party in the western city of Vancouver killing a number of people. Authorities said the incident happened shortly after 8 pm in Vancouver’s Sunset on Fraser neighborhood as members of the Filipino community gathered to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day. Photo by DON MACKINNON/AFP via Getty Images)
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12. A victim lies near a food truck after a car drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver on Saturday April 26, 2025. There has been a number of fatalities and numerous injuries.Photo by Rich Lam Rich Lam/The Canadian /The Canadian Press
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14. A victim lies near a food truck after a car drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver on Saturday April 26, 2025. There has been a number of fatalities and numerous injuries.Photo by Rich Lam Rich Lam/The Canadian /The Canadian Press
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16. A victim lies near a food truck after a car drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver on Saturday April 26, 2025. There has been a number of fatalities and numerous injuries.Photo by Rich Lam /The Canadian Press
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18. VANCOUVER, B.C.: APRIL 26, 2025 – Multiple people were killed and more injured after a black SUV sped through crowds at the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party in Vancouver, B.C. near East 43rd and Fraser on Saturday, April 26, 2025. This black SUV was pictured at the scene after driving through a pedestrian-only area flanked by food trucks.Photo by SUBMITTED / POSTMEDIA
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20. VANCOUVER, B.C.: APRIL 26, 2025 – Multiple people were killed and more injured after a black SUV sped through crowds at the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party in Vancouver, B.C. near East 43rd and Fraser on Saturday, April 26, 2025. This black SUV was pictured at the scene after driving through a pedestrian-only area flanked by food trucks.Photo by SUBMITTED / POSTMEDIA
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22. April 26, 2025: A screenshot from a video taken in the aftermath of a mass casualty event at the Lapu Lapu festival on East 43rd Avenue near Fraser Street in Vancouver. Credit: Abigail Andiso
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24. The scene around Fraser Street and 41st Avenue after someone drove into a crowd of people at Lapu Lapu Day in Vancouver on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Photo credit: Kim Bolan/PNGPhoto by Kim Bolan
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26. The scene around Fraser Street and 41st Avenue after someone drove into a crowd of people at Lapu Lapu Day in Vancouver on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Photo by Kim Bolan /PNG
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28. (L-R) Mable Elmore, a member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly, and RJ Aquino, chair of the community advocacy group Filipino BC, hold a news conference the day after a man drove a vehicle into pedestrians at the annual Lapu Lapu festival celebrating Filipino culture, in Vancouver, Canada, on April 27, 2025. Photo by NAV RAHI /AFP via Getty Images
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30. Mable Elmore (R), a member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly, and RJ Aquino, is embraced at the end of a news conference the day after a man drove a vehicle into pedestrians at the annual Lapu Lapu festival celebrating Filipino culture, in Vancouver, Canada, on April 27, 2025. Canadian police arrested a man on April 26 after a car plowed into a street party in the western city of Vancouver killing 11 people. Authorities said the incident happened shortly after 8:00 pm (0300 GMT Sunday) in Vancouver’s Sunset on Fraser neighborhood as members of the Filipino community gathered to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day. The suspect acted deliberately and had a history of mental health problems, police said Sunday, warning the toll could rise. (Photo by Nav Rahi / AFP)Photo by NAV RAHI /AFP via Getty Images
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32. People pay their respects at the site of a fatal crash in Vancouver April 27, 2025 during a Lapu Lapu celebration. Nick Procaylo photo
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34. A woman places flowers on the scene where at least 11 people were killed by a speeding vehicle on Fraser St during Lapu Lapu Day celebrations in Vancouver, B.C., April 27, 2025.Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG
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36. Saul Schneider at the site of a fatal crash in Vancouver April 27, 2025 during a Lapu Lapu celebration. Nick Procaylo photoPhoto by Denise Ryan
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38. Aerial views of 43rd Avenue in south Vancouver in the aftermath of a driving rampage that left at least 11 people dead and many others injured during the windup of the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party celebrating Filipino culture on Saturday, April 26, 2025.Photo by Curtis Kreklau /for Postmedia News
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40. Vancouver Kingsway riding NDP incumbent MP Don Davies (left) speaks to BC Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Gary Begg earlier in the day at the Lapu-Lapu day event in Vancouver Saturday morning. The event is a celebration of the Filipino community. A late Saturday attack left at least nine people dead.Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
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42. BC finance minister Brenda Bailey at the annual Lapu-Lapu day event in Vancouver earlier on SaturdayPhoto by Jason Payne /PNG
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44. BC Premier David Eby and daughter Iva Eby earlier in the day at the Lapu-Lapu day event in Vancouver Saturday.Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
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46. Former Vancouver, BC mayor Gregor Robertson, now running as the Liberal candidate in the Vancouver Fraserview-South Burnaby riding, at the annual Lapu-Lapu day event in Vancouver earlier on Saturday.Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
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48. VANCOUVER, B.C., April 27, 2025 – BC Premier David Eby speaks at the scene where at least twelve people were killed by a speeding vehicle on Fraseer St during Lapu Lapu Day celebrations in Vancouver, B.C., April 27, 2025. (NICK PROCAYLO/PNG) 10107854A [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10107854A
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50. People mourn near the scene where a car drove into a crowd of people during the Lapu Lapu Festival on April 27, 2025 in Vancouver, Canada. Police said a 30-year-old man drove his car into a crowd at a Filipino street festival, killing at least eleven people and injuring multiple others.Photo by Andrew Chin /Getty Images
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52. A young child and his mother leave a teddy bear and flowers, near the location where a vehicle drove into crowd at a street festival, in Vancouver, Sunday April 27, 2025. Members of the community are sharing their shock and devastation in the wake of a car-ramming attack at a Vancouver street festival that left 11 people dead and dozens more injured.Photo by Rich Lam /The Canadian Press
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54. People listen from outside St. MaryÕs Parish during afternoon mass that was at capacity, in Vancouver, on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Shock and grief rippled through Canada’s Filipino community on Sunday as members struggled to come to grips with an attack at a cultural street festival in Vancouver on Saturday that killed 11 people and injured dozens more.Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Lo wrote about how devastated his family was as he thanked donors for contributing more than $9,000 for his brother’s funeral.

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“I’m burdened with remorse for not spending more time with him,” he said. “I implore you to keep his soul in your thoughts and prayers.”

Months later, in August, he again asked the public for donations to help his family after his mother attempted suicide and ended up in hospital for a month.

“The unimaginable grief brought upon my mother is something that is worse than my own sadness. For she brought him into this world, only for him to leave abruptly, it is a sadness I cannot being to express,” he said. “She lost a son already and is on the verge of losing her home. This has driven her to attempt to take her own life.”

Vancouver police investigate a crime scene after a man drove into pedestrians at the annual Lapu Lapu festival celebrating Filipino culture, at East 43rd Avenue and Fraser, in the south of Vancouver on April 26, 2025. Canadian police arrested a man on April 26 after a car plowed into a street party in the western city of Vancouver killing a number of people. Authorities said the incident happened shortly after 8 p.m. in Vancouver’s Sunset on Fraser neighbourhood as members of the Filipino community gathered to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day. Photo by DON MACKINNON/AFP via Getty Images)

Lo had no prior criminal record, according to the online court database.

Sources told Postmedia that a family member had contacted a hospital psych ward hours before Sunday’s attack because of Lo’s deteriorating mental health. It’s not known what action, if any, was taken. He was believed to be suffering from delusions and paranoia.

Police said they’ve had significant interactions with Lo — as did health care professionals — due to his mental health issues. Some were recent.

Politicians of all stripes who have commented on the mass tragedy at the Lapu Lapu festival have been asked about support for people with serious mental health problems.

Premier David Eby said Sunday the attacker was obviously “profoundly ill.”