Latest news with #seconddegreemurder
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Man accused of killing brother of Lapu-Lapu Day murder suspect pleads guilty
The man charged in the homicide of Alexander Lo, the older brother of accused Lapu-Lapu Day festival killer Kai-Ji Adam Lo, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Alexander Lo, 31, was found dead in a home near Knight Street and East 33rd Avenue in Vancouver in the early morning hours of Jan. 29, 2024. Dwight William Kematch, 39, was arrested at the scene and charged with the killing. He pleaded guilty to the single count of second-degree murder on Friday. Kematch's sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 11 at 10 a.m. PT in Vancouver. Investigators have not said how Alexander Lo died. Three months ago, his younger brother, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, was arrested after allegedly driving his SUV into a crowd at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival in Vancouver, killing 11 people and injuring dozens more. He is facing 11 counts of second-degree murder and is currently the subject of a court hearing to determine whether he is fit to stand trial on those charges. Police have said Kai-Ji Adam Lo was under the care of a mental health team at the time of the alleged car ramming attack. According to a February 2024 story in the Detroit Free Press, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) alleges Kematch sent death threats over Facebook to the then-mayor and council of Hamtramck, Mich., three days before Alexander Lo was murdered in Vancouver.
CTV News
9 hours ago
- CTV News
Guilty plea in murder of Alexander Lo, brother of festival suspect Adam Kai-Ji Lo
The Law Courts building, which is home to B.C. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, is seen in Vancouver on November 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck A man has pleaded guilty to the murder of Alexander Lo, the brother of Lapu Lapu festival attack suspect Adam Kai-Ji Lo. The BC Prosecution Service says Dwight Kematch pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder on Friday. Kematch's sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 11 in British Columbia Supreme Court. Alexander Lo, 31, was found dead last year in a home in East Vancouver, and police have confirmed he was the brother of the man now charged in the unrelated Lapu Lapu festival attack that killed 11 people. Vancouver police said last year that officers responded around 1 a.m. on January 28 to a 9-1-1 call from a home near Knight Street and East 33rd Avenue, arresting Kematch inside the residence where Lo's body was also discovered. Adam Kai-Ji Lo is facing 11 second-degree murder charges in the ramming attack in April, when an SUV plowed through a crowd at a Filipino community festival. Last week, he appeared in a Vancouver court as forensic psychiatrists testified at a hearing to determine if he is fit to stand trial. This report by Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press, was first published July 28, 2025.
CBC
10 hours ago
- CBC
Man accused of killing brother of Lapu-Lapu Day murder suspect pleads guilty
Social Sharing The man charged in the homicide of Alexander Lo, the older brother of accused Lapu-Lapu Day festival killer Kai-Ji Adam Lo, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Alexander Lo, 31, was found dead in a home near Knight Street and East 33rd Avenue in Vancouver in the early morning hours of Jan. 29, 2024. Dwight William Kematch, 39, was arrested at the scene and charged with the killing. He pleaded guilty to the single count of second-degree murder on Friday. Kematch's sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 11 at 10 a.m. PT in Vancouver. Investigators have not said how Alexander Lo died. Three months ago, his younger brother, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, was arrested after allegedly driving his SUV into a crowd at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival in Vancouver, killing 11 people and injuring dozens more. He is facing 11 counts of second-degree murder and is currently the subject of a court hearing to determine whether he is fit to stand trial on those charges. Police have said Kai-Ji Adam Lo was under the care of a mental health team at the time of the alleged car ramming attack. According to a February 2024 story in the Detroit Free Press, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) alleges Kematch sent death threats over Facebook to the then-mayor and council of Hamtramck, Mich., three days before Alexander Lo was murdered in Vancouver.
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Detroit teen convicted of murder in Sterling Heights crash that killed pregnant mother, unborn child
A Detroit man has been convicted of second-degree murder in an August 2023 Sterling Heights crash that killed a pregnant mother and her unborn child. Travion Smith, 18, was convicted Thursday of second-degree murder, causing the miscarriage of a pregnant individual, two counts of reckless driving causing serious impairment and first-degree fleeing and eluding a police officer. Prosecutors allege that Smith, who was 16 at the time of the crash, was driving eastbound on Van Dyke Avenue at 15 Mile Road around 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 12, 2023, when police attempted to pull him over. Smith allegedly proceeded to lead police on a high-speed chase, with speeds exceeding more than 90 miles per hour, and ran a red light at 16 Mile and Van Dyke. Smith struck a vehicle occupied by 31-year-old Faith Gumma, her husband, Norman Gumma, and their 4-year-old son. Faith Gumma and her unborn child were killed in the crash, while her husband was paralyzed. Their 4-year-old son was also seriously injured but has since recovered. "This time, a jury has spoken! Enough is enough! This jury verdict reminds us all that every choice we make carries consequences that go far beyond the moment. This young man's decision to flee from a routine traffic stop has left an overwhelming loss. His actions not only shattered a family but also eroded the community's sense of security. Our office will always tirelessly pursue justice for the families who have to live with these unnecessary, tragic events," said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido in a statement. Lucido has called for bipartisan legislation to address what he calls a "growing public safety threat of drivers who refuse to stop for law enforcement." "Every time someone runs, they roll the dice with innocent lives. I want to end that gamble," Lucido said. "We need statutory enhancement of consequences including mandatory prison time. The people of the state of Michigan deserve to be protected." Smith will be sentenced on Aug. 26. The video above originally aired on Aug. 14, 2023.
CBC
5 days ago
- CBC
Suspect in Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy appears in court to determine whether he's mentally fit to stand trial
Social Sharing The suspect in an alleged car-ramming attack at a Vancouver street festival in April appeared in court Wednesday to determine whether he's mentally fit to stand trial. Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, is accused of driving an SUV through a crowd of people at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival on April 26. Eleven people were killed and many more injured. Lo is facing 11 charges of second-degree murder. The incident prompted the B.C. government to commission a report that made sweeping recommendations for event safety in B.C., as well as an outpouring of support for the Filipino diaspora. On Wednesday, Lo appeared in court to determine whether he was fit to stand trial. The accused sat in the prisoner's box wearing a black long-sleeved sweatshirt and black pants. His hair was dishevelled as he sat with his hands clasped in his lap. The hearing began with Crown prosecutor Michaela Donnelly informing the court that a Supreme Court of Canada decision expected on Friday could change the legal standard used to determine whether an accused is fit to stand trial, which could have consequences for Lo's fitness trial. Despite this, the court decided to proceed, as witnesses are already lined up. The fitness trial will happen in two stages: facts and evidence this week, and argument on the law at a later date. Publication ban Many of the details surrounding Lo's Wednesday court appearance are subject to a court-ordered publication ban. The ban covers evidence and exhibits related to Wednesday's hearing. But a media consortium, a group of news outlets working together, is challenging the ban. Daniel Coles, the lawyer representing the consortium, which includes CBC News, said the media — and in turn the public — deserve to know the evidence for why Lo is or is not fit to stand trial. "If a judge determines that the accused is not fit to stand trial, people need to understand why. That's a pretty big decision," he said from the Vancouver Law Courts Wednesday morning. "And conversely, if the judge decides he can stand trial notwithstanding perhaps evidence of diseases of the mind ... the public needs to be satisfied that that's also fair." Coles said he believes the judge recognizes the public interest in the case. "I'm optimistic that there can be an outcome favourable to Canadians, British Columbians, victims, members of the impacted communities that will allow access and publication," he said. Crystal Laderas, public relations manager for Filipino B.C., said community members want answers. "There's still a lot of grief, anger and confusion as to what happened that day," she said while speaking to media outside the Law Courts. "Obviously, there's a lot of public interest in this case. I believe the community is looking for answers and at least to be able to follow these proceedings closely, but we do want to respect that the court process and this hearing is important as well."
