Accused mass killer in Lapu Lapu Day tragedy was on leave from hospital: Vancouver Coastal Health
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'VCH can confirm the alleged driver of the vehicle was under the care of a mental health team and on extended leave in accordance with the Mental Health Act,' the statement said. 'Extended leave is intended to help clients maintain their treatment plans while transitioning back to community for continuing support.'
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Lo, 30, is charged with eight counts of second-degree murder for allegedly driving his 2018 Audi SUV through a crowd of people Saturday night, killing 11 and injuring many more.
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Police had dozens of encounters with Lo related to his mental health. He had no criminal record.
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The health authority statement said 'the care team followed established guidelines for a client on extended leave, and there was no indication this person was not following their treatment plan or presented a public safety risk.'
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Subject 37 of the B.C. Mental Health Act says that if a 'director considers that leave would benefit a patient detained in the designated facility, the director may release the patient on leave from the designated facility providing appropriate support exists in the community to meet the conditions of the leave.'
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A former health-care worker told Postmedia Tuesday that normally if a family of someone in involuntary treatment calls for assistance, police are contacted to bring the person back to hospital.
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Vancouver Police Sgt. Steve Addison wouldn't provide more details Tuesday about interactions with Lo before the killings at the popular Lapu Lapu Day community festival. Nor would he say more about Lo's contact with a 'neighbouring' police agency April 25, except that the situation was not serious enough to warrant intervention.
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He did confirm that VPD learned about the Friday incident only after the attack — when officers checked a police database and saw the related entry.
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