A minimum of 20 folks have been shot, 10 fatally, close to a Lunar New 12 months celebration within the Los Angeles suburb of Monterey Park when a gunman opened hearth inside a crowded dance studio, authorities stated.
The gunman has not been recognized and stays at giant Sunday morning, stated Capt. Andrew Meyer, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division Murder Bureau, which is main the investigation.
A number of the injured have been in essential situation, whereas others have been reported as secure, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated at a information convention Sunday morning.
Investigators collect at a scene the place a taking pictures happened in Monterey Park, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023.
Jae C. Hong/AP
Luna stated 5 girls and 5 males have been killed within the rampage.
The gunman was solely described as an Asian male 30 to 50 years outdated, Luna stated.
“We will use each useful resource accessible to us as a result of we have to get this individual off the road,” Luna stated.
Luna declined to touch upon a doable motive, however stated, “all the pieces is on the desk.”
“We do not know that this was a hate crime as described by legislation,” Luna stated. “Who walks right into a dance corridor and weapons down 20 folks?”
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the taking pictures by his Homeland Safety advisor, in line with the White Home, and the FBI has joined the investigation.
“Jill and I are praying for these killed and injured in final evening’s lethal mass taking pictures in Monterey Park. I am monitoring this example intently because it develops, and urge the group to comply with steering from native officers and legislation enforcement within the hours forward,” Biden stated in an announcement.
In early alerts despatched to Washington, investigators stated “that they had no concept who the suspect was,” Pierre Thomas, ABC Information’ chief justice correspondent, stated on ABC’s “This Week.”
U.S. Legal professional Basic Merrick Garland has additionally been briefed on the taking pictures, in line with an announcement from the Division of Justice.
Monterey Park had been internet hosting the Monterey Park Lunar New 12 months Pageant this weekend, marking the start of the Chinese language lunar calendar. The annual two-day avenue pageant is extensively attended, with earlier celebrations drawing as many as 100,000 day by day guests, in line with town. Greater than 65% of Monterey Park’s about 60,000 residents determine as Asian American, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau.
Police patrol the scene alongside Garvey Avenue in Monterey Park, California, on Jan. 21, 2023, the place police are responding to reviews of a number of folks shot.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP through Getty Photographs
The Sheriff’s Division stated the taking pictures erupted round 10:22 p.m. on West Garvey Avenue, close to the downtown lower than a block from the place the pageant was being held.
The gunman opened hearth shortly after getting into a dance corridor, the place folks had been celebrating the vacation, police stated. It was unclear what sort of weapon he used, however Luna stated detectives don’t imagine an assault weapon was concerned.
Investigators collect at a scene the place a taking pictures happened in Monterey Park, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023.
Jae C. Hong/AP
Monterey Park Police Scott Wiese stated his officers responded to reviews of photographs fired on the dance studio and described a chaotic scene with panicked folks operating out of the dance corridor and gunshot victims mendacity within the car parking zone.
Police within the close by metropolis of Alhambra have been investigating an incident, which additionally occurred at a dance studio, that could be linked to the taking pictures, Luna stated.
Within the Alhambra incident, which occurred 17 minutes after the Monterey Park taking pictures, an Asian man entered the dance studio with a gun, and several other folks there wrestled the weapon away from him earlier than he fled the scene. Luna stated a white cargo van witnesses noticed on the Alhambra incident is a “car of curiosity” within the investigation.
“To have this tragedy happen on Lunar New 12 months weekend, makes this particularly painful,” Alhambra Mayor Sasha Renée Pérez stated in a Twitter post Sunday. “Monterey Park is house to one of many largest #AAPI communities within the nation. This can be a time when residents ought to be celebrating with household, buddies and family members – not fearing gun violence.”
In an announcement Sunday morning, town of Monterey Park clarified that the taking pictures didn’t happen on the Lunar New 12 months Pageant however on the dance studio close to the pageant that was not linked to the festivities. Officers stated Saturday’s pageant occasions have been scheduled to complete at 9 p.m.
Metropolis officers stated all pageant actions for Sunday have been canceled.
“Although the incident didn’t happen on the 2023 Lunar New 12 months Pageant, an lively investigation is presently underway and the world close to and across the pageant is affected. As a precaution and for the security of everybody, the Metropolis regrets to announce the cancellation of the second day of the pageant,” metropolis officers stated in an announcement.
The L.A. County Sheriff’s Division stated it could lead the investigation, after earlier saying it could assist Monterey Park Police. The FBI stated it had responded to the scene to help.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom launched a statement on Twitter condemning the assault.
“Monterey Park ought to have had an evening of festivity of the Lunar New 12 months. As a substitute, they have been the victims of a horrific and heartless act of gun violence,” Newsom tweeted. “Our hearts mourn as we study extra concerning the devastating acts of final evening. We’re monitoring the state of affairs intently.”
This can be a creating story. Please examine again for updates. ABC Information’ Vanessa Navarrete contributed to this report.
