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10 killed, 10 injured in Monterey Park mass shooting amid Lunar New Year celebration

An official wrote on Twitter, 'our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones tonight in our neighboring city, Monterey Park'

Update: The suspect in the Monterey Park mass shooting has been declared dead by authorities. ABC quoted Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna who identified the shooter as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran. The police had a white van surrounded believing the suspect to be inside, however, as they approached the van, Sheriff Luna claimed they heard a gunshot. The driver was found slumped behind the wheel and had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

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MONTEREY PARK, CALIFORNIA: 10 people were killed and 10 others were reportedly injured in a horrific mass shooting in the city of Monterey Park, California on Saturday, January 21, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. It was reported that the suspect in the case couldn't be apprehended.

The shooting happened around 10.30 pm at 122 West Garvey Avenue near the intersection of Garvey and Garfield avenues. It apparently occurred shortly after a city's Lunar New Year celebration of the 'Year of the Rabbit'. The two-day celebration was attended by thousands. Police and emergency medical personnel were on the scene as the roads in the area are closed.

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"The suspect fled the scene and remains outstanding," said Capt Andrew Meyer of LASD during a press conference on Sunday, January 22. Meanwhile, Deputy Tracy Koerner also revealed that the suspect was a male. “It’s too early in the investigation to know if this was a hate crime,” Meyer said, adding it “appears to be” an isolated incident. As per Pasadena Star News, he further noted that first responders to the crime scene found people pouring out of the location “screaming.”

Witnesses reported hearing gunfire but initially assumed it was fireworks during a night of celebration for the Lunar New Year. Seung Won Choi, who owns the Clam House seafood barbecue restaurant across the street from where the shooting happened, told CBS that a few people came into his restaurant and asked him to shut down his place. He also noted few other witnesses told him that there was a shooter with a machine gun, who had multiple rounds of ammunition on him so he could reload.

Following the incident, a number of footages started making rounds on social media, in which, cops and fire department officials were seen rushing the victims to nearby hospitals. On Twitter, Los Angeles government official Kenneth paid condolences to the victims and their families and 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.”

Diamond Bar Mayor Andrew Chou also took to his Twitter and wrote “Our prayers are with our friends and colleagues in the great city of Monterey Park. We stand ready to lend our support during this difficult time as we wait for more confirmed details of an alleged mass shooting incident.”

Anyone with information about the shooting was encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously to 'Crime Stoppers' by dialing 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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