Suspect in Vancouver vehicle attack that killed 11 was on ‘extended leave’ from mental health care
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The man accused of killing 11 people when he allegedly plowed his vehicle into a crowded Vancouver, British Columbia, festival had been receiving mental health treatment, but was on an “extended leave” at the time of the attack.
The suspected driver, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, was under the care of a mental health team, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) said in a statement on Tuesday. He was on an extended leave under the Mental Health Act.
Police examine the scene where a vehicle drove into a crowd during a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, on April 27. Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press via AP
When a person is on extended leave, they are “supported by a community mental health team that monitors their mental health and well-being and provides treatment and support as necessary,” VCH said.
An extended leave is intended to help people maintain their treatment plan while transitioning back into the community.
“If the person is not able or refuses to follow the care or treatment plan in place, the mental health team has the ability to recall the person back to (the) hospital,” the statement read.
Authorities had hinted at Lo’s mental health issues during a Sunday news conference when asked about a possible motive. Vancouver interim police chief Steve Rai told reporters that the suspect has “a significant history of interactions with police and health care professionals related to mental health.”
Mayor Ken Sim had said that officials believe “that mental health appears to be the underlying issue here.”
VCH said in its statement that there was no indication that Lo was not following his treatment plan or presented a public safety risk.
The crash happened Saturday night at the Lapu Lapu Day block party in East Vancouver, an annual event celebrating Filipino culture. Eleven people, aged 5 to 65, were killed and more than two dozen were injured, police said.
Toan Le told NBC News that his brother, Richard Le, 47; his sister-in-law, Linh Hoang, 30; and his niece, Katie Le, 5, were killed.
One witness described hearing an engine revving moments before the attack.
“All I can remember is seeing bodies flying up in the air higher than the food trucks themselves and landing on the ground and people yelling and screaming,” clothing vendor Kris Pangilinan told The Associated Press.
Lo was subdued at the scene by festivalgoers until police arrived and took him into custody. He’s been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, and police say further charges are anticipated.
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