MONTEREY PARK, CA – JANUARY 22: Law enforcement at the scene of a shooting on January 22, 2023 in Monterey Park, California. Ten people have been shot dead during at a gathering celebrating the Chinese lunar new year. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
At least 10 dead and 10 others were wounded in a mass shooting at a dance club in Monterey Park during the evening of January 21.
According to various media reports, the shooting occurred at around 10:22 pm nearby a Chinese Lunar New Year festival that was scheduled to happen for two days. The celebrations for January 22 were canceled following the shooting.
The gunman, suspected to be a male, is still at large. Police do not yet know what the motive was; according to The Los Angeles Times, the shooter was firing his long gun at random.
“Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones tonight in our neighboring city, Monterey Park, where a mass shooting just occurred,” Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia tweeted. “Monterey Park is home to one of the largest Asian communities in Los Angeles County and many were out celebrating the Lunar New Year.”
Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones tonight in our neighboring city, Monterey Park, where a mass shooting just occurred. Monterey Park is home to one of the largest Asian communities in Los Angeles County and many were out celebrating the Lunar New Year.
— Kenneth Mejia, CPA (@kennethmejiaLA) January 22, 2023
UPDATE 1: According to the Associated Press (AP),the shooting occurred at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, which offers dance lessons and was holding a “Star Night” event at the time of the shooting.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told reporters that police are looking into a white van that was apparently nearby, although it is not yet clear if the van is connected. Luna later tweeted out a photo of the suspect, who he described as an Asian male.
On Saturday January 21, 2023 at 10:22 PM the suspect male/adult/Asian pictured above was involved in a shooting. Investigators have identified him as a Homicide suspect and he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Contact LASD Homicide with any information at 323-890-5000. pic.twitter.com/2gPUBBybvv— Robert Luna (@LACoSheriff) January 22, 2023
As for the victims, the 10 who died were five males and five females, according to Luna.
Community leader Chester Chong told ABC7 that he believes the shooting was the result of a domestic dispute; however, ABC7 noted that Chong’s statement has yet to be corroborated by law enforcement, who have yet to provide a motive.
Elected officials and Jewish groups condemned the shooting.
“Jill and I are praying for those killed and injured in last night’s deadly mass shooting in Monterey Park,” President Joe Biden tweeted. “I’m monitoring this situation closely as it develops, and urge the community to follow guidance from local officials and law enforcement in the hours ahead. ”
Jill and I are praying for those killed and injured in last night’s deadly mass shooting in Monterey Park.
I’m monitoring this situation closely as it develops, and urge the community to follow guidance from local officials and law enforcement in the hours ahead.
— President Biden (@POTUS) January 22, 2023
“Monterey Park should have had a night of joyful celebration of the Lunar New Year,” California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat tweeted. “Instead, they were the victims of a horrific and heartless act of gun violence. Our hearts mourn as we learn more about the devastating acts of last night. We are monitoring the situation closely.”
Monterey Park should have had a night of joyful celebration of the Lunar New Year. Instead, they were the victims of a horrific and heartless act of gun violence.
Our hearts mourn as we learn more about the devastating acts of last night. We are monitoring the situation closely.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 22, 2023
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the shooting “absolutely devastating.” “Families deserve to celebrate the holidays in peace––mass shootings and gun violence are a plague on our communities. As investigations determine whether these acts were motivated by Asian hate, we continue to stand united against all attempts to divide us. My heart goes out to Monterey Park and the families and friends of those lost.”
My heart goes out to Monterey Park and the families and friends of those lost. pic.twitter.com/OAg90QlRlL
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) January 22, 2023
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted, “I’m horrified to learn about the tragic shooting in #MontereyPark. My heart breaks for the #AAPI community and all in LA area. @ADL is actively monitoring the situation and will offer whatever we can to our allies.”
The American Jewish Committee said in a statement, “American Jewish Committee is horrified that the celebration of the Lunar New Year was punctured by this senseless tragedy in Monterey Park. While the motive for the shootings remains unclear, our hearts go out to our friends and allies in Southern California’s Asian community.”
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles also said in a statement, “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of those murdered at a peaceful Lunar New Year celebration in the San Gabriel Valley. We are reaching out to our partner organizations in the AAPI communities to lend our full support. Gun violence has no place in a civilized and moral society and continues to be a devastating plague upon this country. May the memory of those lives lost forever be a blessing.”
The California Legislative Jewish Caucus tweeted, “Our hearts are with our dear friends in the [California Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus], all those impacted by the horrific mass shooting in Monterey Park, and the entire AAPI community at this difficult moment.”
Our hearts are with our dear friends in the @AAPILegCaucus, all those impacted by the horrific mass shooting in Monterey Park, and the entire AAPI community at this difficult moment. https://t.co/Cpl0GAcjLi
— CA Legislative Jewish Caucus (@CAJewishCaucus) January 22, 2023
UPDATE 2: Law enforcement has identified the suspect as Huu Can Tran, 72, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a van after being surrounded by SWAT in Torrance. Law enforcement found evidence in the van connecting Tran to the Monterey Park shooting as well as an incident in Alhambra where an armed man entered a separate dance studio, but patrons were able to wrangle the gun away from him before the man fled. Authorities still do not yet know the motive behind the Monterey Park shooting and Alhambra incident.
This is a developing story.
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