David Eby has vowed to launch a public inquiry into the horrific Lapu Lapu Day festival attack if the current police investigation does not yield results.
The premier made it clear that no matter what, British Columbians would get answers about the incident that claimed the lives of 11 and left dozens more injured.
"If the criminal investigation and trial is unable to provide British Columbians with the answers that we need, then the provincial government will call a public inquiry and ensure that we get all of the answers that we're looking for," he said during a press conference in Victoria on Tuesday.
He noted that "the number one priority is ensuring justice for the Filipino community, ensuring that this man is held and tried, and convicted for these murders," adding that the province would have launched an inquiry already but opted not to to avoid potential conflict with the criminal investigation.
Eby said his government is "committed to getting all of the answers for British Columbians about how this could possibly have happened, who this individual was, what happened in the time leading up to his horrific attack, and how we can move forward."
The incident took place shortly before 8:15 p.m. on Saturday near East 43rd Ave. and Fraser St., where thousands had gathered to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day.
The suspect, 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo, has been arrested and charged with eight counts of murder, though more charges are expected to be filed as the investigation continues.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Vancouver Police Department Sgt. Steve Addison confirmed that Lo had "contact" with police on April 25, one day before the attack. He noted, however, that the interaction "was not criminal in nature," and "did not rise to the level where mental health intervention was required."
A number of the victims have been identified. Among those killed were 47-year-old Richard Le, his wife, 30-year-old Linh Hoang, and their daughter, five-year-old Katie Le. Le's 16-year-old son, Andy, had opted to "stay home to finish his homework" instead of joining everyone at the event.
Several GoFundMe pages have been set up to assist those impacted by the tragedy.
Of the dozens still in hospital, seven are in critical condition and three are in serious condition.