A family, a festival and how unfathomable tragedy occurred at Vancouver's Lapu Lapu Day
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In January last year, Cirque du Soleil usher Alexander Lo made his final public post on his Facebook timeline, promoting the circus' Kooza show.
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Four days later, his brother responded. 'Brother, we will get to see this together sometime,' wrote Adam Kai-Ji Lo.
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But he knew it wasn't to be.
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Alexander Lo had already been found dead in an East Vancouver home on Jan. 28, 2024, the day after his Facebook post, police said. Dwight William Kematch was promptly arrested and charged with second-degree murder, in a case that is the subject of a publication ban.
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The killing was part of a series of tumultuous events that upended the Lo family, culminating last weekend with Adam Lo's arrest on murder charges after the Lapu Lapu Day festival tragedy that killed 11 people in Vancouver, less than three kilometres from the family home.
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Documents, interviews, social media posts and other accounts show the family was wracked by Alexander Lo's killing, financial battles, what Adam Lo called a suicide attempt by their mother, and his own descent into mental illness that included time in involuntary treatment. Festival patrons and vendors, meanwhile, described how a day of celebration and joy for the Filipino community was transformed into a barely imaginable scene of tragedy.
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Hanging over the Lo family was the death of David Lo on Dec. 31, 2001. Social media posts showed Alexander and Adam Lo continued to mourn their father.
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'Dad I miss you everyday there's no one day that I don't think about you,' Alexander posted around the 22nd anniversary of his father's death.
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A month later, with Alexander dead too, Adam Lo wrote on the post: 'Brother, you always mentioned about Dad. Now that you are gone, I will do my best to make sure you are close to him. You will be close to him, where he is resting now. Be at peace together.'
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The killing was Vancouver's first homicide of 2024, and Adam Lo launched a GoFundMe fundraiser that raised more than $90,000 to cover funeral costs.
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'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 wrote.
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He said he was 'burdened with remorse' and that his mother, Lisa Lo, carried 'indescribable sorrow for a son she brought into this world, only to see him depart so suddenly.'
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CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
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The Province
a day ago
- The Province
Vancouver police ramp up weekend presence to deter crime, provide 'assurance'
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The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Police spokesman Sgt. Steve Addison acknowledged some people may be feeling anxious about public safety given Thursday night's car-ramming incident at the Pacific Coliseum during a Cirque du Soleil show and the vehicle attack at the Lapu Lapu Day festival in east Vancouver on April 26 that killed 11. But he reassured people that police will be out in full force this with an additional 300 officers deployed from Friday to Sunday. 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Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Toronto Sun
'Devil in the Ozarks' who escaped from Arkansas jail captured
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