A mass shooting occurred during the Lunar New Year Celebrations in Los Angeles. Ten of those killed were among the injured.
The incident took place in Monterey Park – a predominantly Asian neighborhood about ten minutes east of Los Angeles. According to police, the motive for the shooting is not known and has not yet been located. Police responded to the call at 10:22 Saturday, after the gunman, who police believe is male, had fled.
“When officers arrived on scene, they observed numerous individuals, patrons … pouring out of the location, screaming. The officers made entry to the location and located additional victims,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Captain Andrew Meyer .
Meyer reported that at least ten victims died on the spot. Ten others were then taken to the hospital, where they were treated in stable-to critical condition. A man near the dance studio claimed that his friend, who was also in the bathroom, saw the victims and the gunman when he came out. According to the Los Angeles Times, his friend claimed that the murderer appeared to have been firing randomly with a long-gun.
Investigators are trying to determine if another shooting occurred Saturday night in Alhambra.
In the city, thousands celebrated the Lunar New Year. Monterey Park said that previous events had attracted over 100,000 people each day. While the celebration was scheduled to last into Sunday night, organizers cancelled those plans.
“Monterey Park’s Lunar New Year festival features vendors offering unique gifts and specialty items, food booths with various types of delectable items, amusement rides, and lots of live entertainment,”The Monterey Park website has more information about the event.
The FBI’s Los Angeles field office is involved in the investigation, along with the homicide bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Monterey Park Police, and other agencies, according to CNN.
“We’re working with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, The Federal Bureau of Investigation LA office and numerous other law enforcement agencies,”Meyer spoke Sunday.
Monterey Park is home to approximately 60,000 people, with 65% being Asian. Meyer stated to reporters that it was not possible to determine if the shootings were targeted.
“We will look at every angle as far as whether it’s a hate crime or not. It’s just too early in the investigation to know,”He stated.
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