Monterey Park Shooting: 9 Wounded, 11 Dead

By Ilora

A hard-working grandmother who loved to dance, an immigrant mother of three, a man described as “the centre of entertainment.” Victims of a deadly shooting. The gunman is still at large.

On Saturday 21st January 2023 eleven people were killed and nine wounded at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio near Los Angeles in one of California’s deadliest mass shootings. The shooting in Monterey Park, which has a large Asian population, followed the celebration of the Lunar New Year Festival. The centre of Monterey Park was decorated with red lanterns and banners and tens of thousands of people had gathered throughout the day. Following the shooting celebrations meant to continue on Sunday, were cancelled by officials.

The gunman, who has not yet been found by the police, open fired on the dance studio in the downtown area of the city and fled the scene Officers arrived at 22:22 local time. According to Captain Andrew Myer people were found “pouring out of the location screaming.”

Officers are on the hunt for a male suspect between the age of 30 and 50 but have received varying descriptions of the attacker. Dozens of witnesses are being interviewed in an attempt to track down the gunman. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said, “we need to get this person off the street as soon as possible.” He did not mention the weapon used but said the suspect may have fled in a white van. The motive for the attack is still unclear

Police are also investigating the possibility that the suspect entered another dance studio 30 minutes after the attack. His weapon was wrestled from him by someone at the Alhambra Dance Studio. No injuries occurred at that location. Sheriff Luna stated that a related incident is definitely on his radar.

The attack, despite occurring in California which has a reputation for having some of the strictest gun laws in the country, according to advocacy groups, raises the question of stricter gun safety laws in both California and more broadly in the US.

Chester Chong, chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce Los Angeles told the BBC, the community had been stunned by the attack and added that he was worried for his friend, the owner of the Star Ballroom Dance Studio. This was reiterated by Baptist Pastor Meko Seto, 41, who told the BBC that the community has been left devastated by the shooting.

Others in the area at the time of the shooting believed the sounds they heard were fireworks

“I thought it had something to do with the Lunar New Year,” said Tony Lai.

The mayor of Alhambra, Sasha Renée Pérez said it was “especially painful” that the tragedy happened on a Lunar New Year weekend. “Residents should be celebrating with family, friends and loved ones – not fearing gun violence,” she said.

California’s Governor Gavin Newsom described the shooting as a “horrific and heartless” act of gun violence and expressed his sympathies.

According to White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, President Joe Biden has been briefed and has ordered the FBI to support local authorities.