California mass shooting leaves at least 10 dead, others injured at Lunar New Year festival
A place where people
had gathered to celebrate the Lunar New Year was the scene of a mass shooting
late Saturday in Monterey Park, California, in which at least 10 people were
murdered and numerous others were hurt, according to authorities.
10 individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Capt. Andrew Meyer of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau, who also reported that 10 additional victims were transported to nearby hospitals in a range of situations, from stable to critical.
After the shooting, the suspect—whom officials had previously described as a man—reportedly fled the scene and is still at large, according to Meyer. The suspect's identity was not immediately known.
Around 10:30 p.m., officers arrived at the dance ballroom to find "people pouring out of the premises screaming," Meyer said, adding that officers entered the club as firefighters attended to the injured.
Meyer stated that at this time, no other information was known on the used firearm. He asserted that it is still too early in the investigation to determine whether the shooter knew any of the victims or whether the incident was motivated by hatred.
He said that authorities were looking into a different incident at the Lai Lai Ballroom in the nearby city of Alhambra to see if it was related. There were no early reports of injuries in that incident.
Fox News was informed by sources that police believe the two crimes are related and that they are aware of the identity of the alleged shooter. A "high-powered assault rifle," according to the sources, was employed.
President Biden has received a briefing on the shooting from Homeland Security Advisor Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, according to a tweet from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
The incident at the Lunar New Year party was dubbed "horrific and cruel" by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Photos and videos posted on the Citizen app, which enables citizens to report crimes in their neighborhood, show that a sizable police presence reacted to the 120 block of West Garvey Avenue in Monterey Park, a community in Los Angeles County.
A line of police cars was observed obstructing a space between the Chinese grocery store TS Emporium and a GBC International Bank. W. Garvey Avenue was lined with entertainment venues, stores, and restaurants on Saturday night.
A mass shooting occurred, according to the Monterey Park Fire Department, however, they were unable to establish how many individuals may have been shot. Although Monterey police have not yet provided any details on the incident, they did say a news conference is planned for 7 a.m. PST.
The gunman is a guy, the sheriff's department's Sgt. Bob Boese previously confirmed to the Associated Press, but he withheld any other identifying information.
