Shooting in California during Chinese New Year celebration leaves at least 10 dead

A shooting in a city east of Los Angeles left ten dead and several injured on Saturday night as the local community celebrated Chinese New Year.

The attack occurred in Monterey Park, specifically in an area that has a majority Asian-American population.

According to los angeles times, Tens of thousands of people had gathered earlier in the day for the two-day Chinese New Year festivities, which are among the largest in Southern California.

Witnesses who were celebrating the new lunar cycle recognized a man with a machine gun in a dance club who fired indiscriminately around him. The suspect is still on the run.

“When the officers arrived at the scene, they saw that there were many people coming out of there and shouting. Police officers entered the ballroom and located the victims,” ​​Los Angeles Police Capt. Andrew Meyer said.

Meyer said it was still too soon to know if the shooting was a hate crime, but that the event will be looked at “from all angles.”

“Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Detectives are responding to assist the Monterey Park Police Department with a shooting death investigation” assures an official statement.

Joe Biden, the President of the United States, also issued a statement and condolences for the victims of the attack.

Jill and I pray for those killed and injured in last night’s deadly mass shooting in Monterey Park. I am monitoring this situation closely as it unfolds and urge the community to follow the instructions of local officials and law enforcement in the coming hours.”

(YO)