Warning: Some of the details of this story are disturbing. Discretionary power is recommended.
For the first time since the tragedy of April 26 at Lapu Lapu Festival In Vancouver, a man who played a key role in the suspect’s apprehension visited the growing memorial.
“Surrealist,” said Dudley Green, the Dudley Green festival.
“And there is a little sadness, empty, because everything is cleaned now, but the wreck of everything is still a little lively in the mind.”
Green had decided at the last minute to attend the festival, which was held to celebrate the Culture and the Philippine heritage.
At the end of the night, when the crowd started to dissipate, Green said he was walking between two food trucks when he saw a “black blur” go to speed.
“I see that three bodies flying in the air above the catering truck and the earth,” he said. “And then there was a guy who shouted:” Call 911, call 911 “. And I continued to walk this way because I hoped to see if the vehicle would stop.
“So when I got to the top here where the parking panel was, the vehicle was there in front of two food trucks. The door was open, the airbags had been deployed, then I looked on the other side of the street and there was a huge crowd here … people who came to this part of the fence.”
Green said that MP Mable Elmore was standing on his right, a security guard was on his left and Paul Palines was also there.
Get daily national news
Get the best news of the day, the titles of political, economic and current affairs, delivered in your reception box once a day.
He said they had tried to keep the crowd back, telling them to wait for the police.
“It was a very volatile situation, many people were very angry and of course, they wanted to make this justice instant,” added Green.
“All the premise, I thought, was, ok, that the police come to deal with it because at least he did not escape. So we had it here, so we just held it and held it. But it took a lot to defuse the crowd because, as I said, the emotions were high, the people were very volatile.”
Green said there were at least three men who wanted to harm the suspect.
“One of them, he asked me very politely and very calmly, you know, he said to me:” Can you just move, please? “” Said Green.
“And I said, I looked in her eyes and I saw the intention. And I tell him, brother, if you, if I move and do what you plan to do, who will take care of your family?
“And he just took tears and just said,” This guy must die, you know? ” And I said, I don’t disagree that this could be the case, but let’s wait for the police.
Green said that this moment is burned in his brain because he is also a father, and he can only imagine all the anger and frustration that people felt.
He said that the man told him that the car had struck his child but he did not know the extent of the injuries.
Kai-ji Adam Lo, 30, was arrested on the scene on Saturday and has since been accused of eight second-degree murder leaders.
Speaking on Wednesday morning, the mayor of Vancouver, Ken Sim, confirmed that the suspect was under the care of a mental health care team, but he was on extended leave at the time.
Vancouver police said that more charges were expected, but there is no calendar for the investigation.
LO remains in detention and appeared briefly in court on Friday afternoon.
Eleven people were killed in the tragedy, including seven women, two men, a non -binary person and a child. The victims go from five to 65 years.
More than 10 people stay in the hospital.
Green said he knew he had done the right thing by preventing LO crowd until the police arrived.
“If the crowd had taken this gentleman and that they had beaten him to death, all who were involved, they would have been recorded, just as I was recorded, not knowing that people save him,” he said.
“And then the police should have brought charges against all this. They lost family members, they killed people, and yes, they may have had an instant gratuity by killing this person, but that would not have changed the dynamics that already happened.”
Green said LO seemed to be in a stunning and he said: “I’m sorry” several times, standing against the fence until the police arrive.
“I think I am a pretty big guy, so (my) presence has made a difference, and I think that being able to speak to people in a calm and rationally helped to defuse the situation,” he added.
Green said that the law exists for a reason and that people who have lost dear beings in the tragedy must have some appeal to know what has caused this terrible situation.
“I have the impression that the whole city is just full of sadness,” he said.
“I think so many people, when they think of this tragedy, are so emotionally committed and injured … It is very difficult for people to take because everyone can imagine that it could have been my daughter, it could (be) my son, you know, so I think it’s really difficult for many people.
“Each community of this city is affected.”
– With files from Sophie