3 members of family from Colombia died in B.C. festival attack, says son

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Apr 29, 2025 4:49 PM EDT | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

Three members of a household of Colombian immigrants person been identified among the radical killed successful a conveyance ramming successful Vancouver connected Saturday. 

Metro Vancouver nonmigratory Alejandro Samper says helium mislaid his parent Glitza Maria Caicedo, his begetter Daniel Samper and his sister Glitza Daniela Samper successful the alleged attack. 

A 30-year-old antheral faces 8 counts of second-degree execution aft 11 radical were killed and dozens much were wounded astatine the Filipino community's Lapu-Lapu Day festival Saturday night. 

It was conscionable arsenic the festival was coming to an extremity that an SUV plowed done a crowed of radical successful the country of Fraser Street and East 43rd Avenue. 

Samper says helium rushed to the country of the tragedy after receiving a telephone from his sister's fiancé astir a "terrible accident," but helium wasn't allowed successful by police. 

He says helium went to Vancouver General Hospital, wherever his sister passed distant aboriginal Sunday morning, but helium inactive hasn't seen his parents' bodies and helium wasn't capable to accidental goodbye. 

Samper says his household was his "whole world," that his parents "sacrificed" everything to determination them to Canada successful the aboriginal 2000s, successful portion to flight the unit of their autochthonal Colombia. 

He says he's astatine a nonaccomplishment to recognize what happened and wherefore it occurred aft proceeding astir the suspect's intelligence wellness and the deficiency of information barriers astatine the event. 

Police are expected to supply an update into their probe astatine 2:30 p.m. PT Tuesday.

Independent commission

British Columbia Premier David Eby says his authorities volition motorboat an autarkic committee into the alleged onslaught and a nationalist enquiry if the transgression lawsuit doesn't supply answers the nationalist is looking for.

Eby says the committee volition person a "quick turnaround" to get afloat answers for organizers of events and festivals successful the state by June.

WATCH | Toan Le says 3 members of his household killed successful Lapu-Lapu time tragedy:

He says helium wants the nationalist to beryllium capable to "gather and celebrate" implicit the summertime without feeling unsafe.

The premier says if it weren't for the constabulary probe and upcoming transgression trial, his authorities would already beryllium calling a nationalist inquiry.

Eby says the fig 1 precedence is ensuring justness for the Filipino community, ensuring that the accused antheral is "held and tried and convicted for these murders."

The premier says the authorities is committed to getting each of the answers astir however this could person happened.

Police person said much charges are apt against the fishy arsenic their probe continues.