Ten People Were Killed In The Monterey Park Incident, And The Culprit Is Still At Large

In one of California’s bloodiest mass shootings, a shooter who killed at least 10 people close to Los Angeles is still on the loose. Ten more individuals were hurt, and some of them are in severe condition.

Thousands of people had gathered for a Lunar New Year party just before the shooting in Monterey Park, which has a sizable Asian population.

A bustling dance studio in the city’s centre was the target of the assailant’s first shot.

Officers discovered individuals “pouring out of the place shouting” when they got at the scene at 22:22 local time on Saturday (06:22 GMT on Sunday), according to Captain Andrew Meyer.

According to authorities, victims received medical attention both inside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio and outdoors in the parking lot.

Different descriptions of the assailant have been given to police, who are looking for a man suspect between the ages of 30 and 50 who left the scene. Numerous witnesses are being questioned.

At a press conference on Sunday, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said, “We need to get this guy off the street as quickly as possible.

He did not specify the weapon used but did say that the suspect could have gotten away in a white van. The attack’s motivation is yet unknown.

Red lanterns and banners were used to adorn Monterey Park’s central area, which included West Garvey Avenue, the scene of the shooting.

Tens of thousands of people attended the event, one of the biggest in California, throughout the day.

There were supposed to be two days of festivities, but after the shooting, administrators cancelled Sunday’s activities.

The city, which is roughly seven miles (11 km) east of downtown Los Angeles, has a significant police presence, and most of the vicinity of the dancing studio has been cordoned off.

The likelihood that the suspect went into a second dancing class around 30 minutes after the assault is being looked into by police.

According to authorities, someone at the Alhambra dance studio wrestled the firearm he was carrying from him. There was no harm done there.

Sheriff Luna said, “We think there may be a connection to an event.” It is undoubtedly on our radar.

Chinese Chamber of Commerce Los Angeles Chairman Chester Chong told BBC News that the incident had left the neighbourhood in disbelief.

He said that he was concerned about his buddy, the owner of the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, and remarked, “This absolutely should not happen.

Others who were nearby during the incident claimed to have heard what they mistook for fireworks. According to Tony Lai, 35, who spoke to the Associated Press, “I assumed maybe it had something to do with Lunar New Year.”

According to one eyewitness, three individuals barged into his eatery and ordered him to shut the door because a guy with a machine gun was nearby.

Police and firemen were seen responding quickly to a scene on Garvey Avenue and tending to the victims in a video posted on social media.

The bloodiest shooting in California’s modern history, which occurred in 1984 at a McDonald’s in San Ysidro, close to San Diego, claimed the lives of 21 people. This incident ranks among the worst in that state’s history.

After receiving a briefing, President Joe Biden instructed the FBI to assist local law enforcement, according to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Sasha Renée Pérez, the mayor of Alhambra, described it as “particularly terrible” since the incident occurred during the Lunar New Year holiday.

“Residents should not be afraid of gun violence; they should be celebrating with family, friends, and loved ones,” she added.

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, offered his condolences and called the killing a “horrific and cruel” act of gun violence.