Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez expressed her grief on Tuesday following the tragic car-ramming incident in Vancouver that killed 11 people during a Filipino street festival over the weekend.
Fernandez, whose mother is of Filipino descent, said she was “absolutely devastated to hear about the death of my fellow Canadian-Filipinos” during the Lapu-Lapu Day celebration. “My heart goes to the families and the communities of the fallen victims. I love you all, stay strong, and I hope to see you soon,” she posted to her 350,000 Instagram followers.
The deadly attack occurred Saturday evening in Vancouver’s Sunset on Fraser neighborhood. Police said a black Audi SUV plowed through festivalgoers, leaving devastation in its wake. The suspect, 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo, was charged with eight counts of second-degree murder. Authorities said he had a long history of interactions with police and mental health services, but ruled out terrorism as a motive.
The incident shocked the nation just a day before Canada’s general elections. Prime Minister Mark Carney, visibly emotional, addressed the nation and later attended a vigil in Vancouver. “Last night families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, a son, or a daughter. Those families are living every family’s nightmare,” he said.
Eyewitness accounts painted a grim picture. Dale Selipe told the Vancouver Sun she saw children injured and a woman with a broken leg lying on the street. “One person was holding her hand trying to comfort her,” she recalled.
Saturday’s event, which commemorated Filipino hero Lapulapu’s 1521 victory against Spanish forces, featured a parade, film screening, and concert performances, including two members of the Black Eyed Peas.
“This is the darkest day in our city’s history,” Vancouver police declared in a statement.
Britain’s King Charles III, Canada’s head of state, also shared his condolences, saying he was “profoundly saddened” by the tragedy.
