VANCOUVER — Alejandro Samper was getting ready for work on Saturday night when he received a call from his sister's fiancé about a "terrible accident," and he rushed to the scene of the Lapu Lapu Day festival in Vancouver.
He soon learned that his sister Glitza Daniela Samper, his mother Glitza Maria Caicedo and his father Daniel Samper had been hit by an SUV that barrelled through the crowd at the Filipino cultural event.
He said his sister was brought to Vancouver General Hospital where she died early Sunday, and both his parents had also died.
They were among 11 people killed, while about three dozen were sent to hospitals around the Lower Mainland.
Samper is yet to be allowed to see his family members' bodies.
"I'm just destroyed," Samper said Tuesday. "My whole world's taken away from me."
Samper said the family came to Canada in the early 2000s, in part to escape violence in Colombia, and he's now trying to understand what happened and why.
"My parents sacrificed everything in Colombia, their careers, their lifestyle, everything to give us a better future here in Canada," he said. "It just doesn't make any sense. Canada is supposed to be a safe place."
His family has started an online fundraiser through the GoFundMe platform.
Samper said he's been left with many questions about what happened, and wonders why the festival didn't have barricades like other events, noting that he was at a Vaisakhi event the previous week where protective measures were taken.
He said his parents were the "nicest people" who helped many others, and the family was "very, very close."
"They won't let us see the bodies because everything's under investigation," he said. "So, I never even got to say goodbye to my parents."
He said he's been dealing with a "bombardment" of phone calls about the tragedy, and believes it's important to speak out because "we need to get this message across, like, it's unacceptable this was allowed to happen."
"Where's the security? Where were the police when this happened? Also, like the social system, I heard this person that killed everyone, you know, had a very tragic life."
Thirty-year-old Adam Kai-Ji Lo has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder and police say more charges will likely come.
Another family of three was also killed in the attack — Richard Le, his wife Linh Hoang and their five-year-old daughter Katie. Le's 16-year-old son wasn't at the festival.
Among the other victims was Kira Salim, who is being remembered as a dedicated educator and activist who fiercely defended LGBTQ rights in the community.
Vancouver-based Latincouver, a community group promoting Latin American heritage and culture, says in a Facebook post that Salim was "a proud Brazilian" and "a passionate advocate for human rights."
Latincouver says Salim volunteered for the organization during Latin American Heritage Month in 2022 and brought "kindness, talent and energy" to the community.
In a separate post, LGBTQ advocacy group New West Pride says the community in New Westminster, B.C., where Salim worked as a teacher-counsellor, is in mourning.
The post says Salim was "an epic drag king, a wonderful exuberant contributor to our local community, volunteer, activist, local educator, mental health worker. Kira will be deeply missed."
The School of Music at the University of British Columbia says in a statement on Facebook that Salim worked at the school's front desk in 2023. It said they were a "much-loved member of our community" as well as noting their roles as activist and educator.
"We are heartbroken and extend our deepest condolences to Kira’s family, friends, and all who were fortunate to know them," the statement says.
Samper said he's worried about those who survived the tragedy too.
"There were many victims in this tragedy, and these victims, if they're not supported correctly, in 10 years from now … they'll still be angry, resentful," he said.
"I am lucky to have a big family and have a lot of support. Had I not had any of that, I would be very angry, very resentful. But right now I'm being flooded with lots of love."
On the web: www.gofundme.com/f/ef4jg-mom-dad-and-daughter-taken-at-lapu-lapu-day-help-sons
— With files from Chuck Chiang
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 29, 2025.
Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press
