Lapu-Lapu attack: 13 still hospitalized, support centre staying open through weekend

New information has been released about both the accused and the victims in the Lapu-Lapu Day attack.

The community support centre for those affected by last weekend’s deadly attack at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival will remain open throughout the weekend, Vancouver police announced Thursday.

Authorities said the centre, set up at East 43rd Avenue and St. George Street, will also operate on extended hours, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., effectively immediately.

Sgt. Steve Addison said there has been a “tremendously positive reception” from the community, with more than 150 people visiting the centre to speak with police and victim support staff in the first 36 hours it was open.

“We actually had a lineup of people waiting for it to open yesterday morning,” Addison said.

Community members are welcome to visit and ask questions, or even just to “come and have somebody to talk to,” Addison said.

The support centre is also a place witnesses can go to provide an official statement, if they haven’t already.

While investigators have already identified more than 200 witnesses, Addison urged anyone who hasn’t already spoken with police to do so.

“There may be people who left, who believe that there are other witnesses there and they don’t need to come forward,” he said.

“What I want to implore is that if you’re a witness, if you were there and you haven’t yet come forward, what you have to say is incredibly important to us.”

Suspect had driver’s licence

Authorities had few additional details to share about the suspect, 30-year-old Adam Kai-Ji Lo, but confirmed that he did have a driver’s licence at the time of the attack.

Vancouver Coastal Health previously revealed Lo had been under the care of a mental health team, and on extended leave in the community.

“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,” the health authority said this week, in a statement.

Lo is scheduled to appear in Vancouver provincial court on Friday.

Police also provided an update on the victims, confirming that 13 people remain in hospital Thursday, including four in critical condition.

That means one person’s medical status has improved since Wednesday, when five of the victims were in critical condition.

The last of the street closures around the Lapu-Lapu Day festival grounds, which were required for the ongoing police investigation, have ended, allowing traffic to move freely through the neighbourhood again.

“We really thank everybody for their patience and understanding, particularly people who live in the neighbourhood, particularly people who have businesses in the neighbourhood that were impacted by the rather large closures that were there,” Addison said.