🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
At least ten people have been confirmed dead after a shooting in Monterey Park, California, on Saturday night.
Law enforcement were called to the scene at Garvey Avenue at 10.22pm local time, according to information published by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
LA County Sheriff Captain Andrew Meyer then told a news conference that 10 people had been killed outside a dance club, and a further 10 were being treated in hospital. The conditions of the 10 injured ranged from critical to stable.
The Sheriff's Department initially described the shooter as male, but gave no further information, including a possible motive. Addressing the media, Meyer then said the shooter has not been apprehended.
He added it was too early to determine whether the incident was a hate crime, or whether it was targeted. Monterey Park has a population of approximately 60,000, with the city's Asian community making up more than 65 percent of the residents, according to 2020 statistics published by the city.
Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations had been held in the area just before the incident at 100 W Garvey Avenue took place.
Homicide detectives have been called in to assist the Monterey Park Police Department in its inquiries. Newsweek has contacted Monterey Park PD for comment.
Footage posted to social media appeared to show one person being loaded onto an ambulance on a stretcher. Another video widely circulating on Twitter showed several law enforcement vehicles gathered at the scene.
Monterey Park had celebrated Chinese Lunar New Year that evening, with the city east of Los Angeles marking the occasion across the weekend.
Events began at 10am local time on Saturday, and were scheduled to finish for the day at 9pm. A second day of celebrations on Sunday had been planned from 10am until 7pm at Garvey Avenue.
The city's previous Lunar New Year events attracted more than 100,000 visitors each day, the city's official page said.
On Sunday, President Joe Biden said he was "praying" for those killed and injured in the attack.
He said: "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."
Jill and I are praying for those killed and injured in last night’s deadly mass shooting in Monterey Park.
— President Biden (@POTUS) January 22, 2023
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.
Los Angeles city controller, Kenneth Mejia, posted a tribute to those in the "neighboring city" who were attending events for 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," Mejia wrote.
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
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has encouraged anyone with information about the incident to call their Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
Anyone who wishes to provide information anonymously can call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the "P3 Tips" Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
About the writer
Ellie Cook is a Newsweek security and defense reporter based in London, U.K. Her work focuses largely on the Russia-Ukraine ... Read more