According to multiple news reports, more than a dozen people were shot, many fatally, at the conclusion of the first day of the Lunar New Year festival in Monterey Park, California, about 10 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
Pete Demetriou from KNX News reported that preliminary indications are that 16 people were shot with as many as 10 dead.
#montereypark Shooting at Lunar New Year celebrations in this City. Preliminary indications are 16 people shot, as many as 10 dead. No suspect in custody. Monterey Park PD is primary in investigation with the assistance of LASD Homicide. @knxnews pic.twitter.com/Q7aUhLwlOp
— Pete Demetriou (@knxpete) January 22, 2023
KNX notes that numbers of dead and injured are not confirmed by officials at this time, and are based on police scanner traffic.
According to census statistics, about 65 percent of Monterey Park’s 60,000 residents are of Asian descent. The small city has reportedly requested assistance from neighboring cities in responding to the crisis.
Nearby agencies were assisting the Monterey Park police and fire departments. According to video from the scene and broadcast reports, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators, El Monte and Alhambra police and South Pasadena fire personnel were on scene.
BREAKING: I am in Monterey Park where there are reports of at least ten people shot at a Lunar New Year event. Very little info and I’m still headed to the primary scene. Monterey Park PD & Alhambra PD are on scene. More soon. pic.twitter.com/ewFho0Joju
— Emily Holshouser (@emilyytayylor) January 22, 2023
According to the Los Angeles Times, one law enforcement source said “the casualty count totaled more than a dozen people.” A restaurant proprietor shared a harrowing story:
Seung Won Choi, who owns the Clam House seafood barbecue restaurant across the street from where the shooting happened, said three people rushed into his restaurant and told him to lock the door. They told him that there was a man with a machine gun in the area.
The people also told Choi that the shooter had multiple rounds of ammunition on him, so that once his ammunition ran out, the shooter reloaded.
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Choi said he believes the shooting took place at a dance club in the area.
The shooting took place sometime after 10 p.m. near the site of a Chinese Lunar New Year celebration. Tens of thousands had gathered Saturday for the start of a two-day festival, one of the largest Lunar New Year events in the region.
John, 27, who declined to give his last name, lives near the shooting site. He got home around 10 p.m. and heard about 4 or 5 gunshots, he said. Then he heard police cruisers “smashing” down the street. He went downstairs at around 11:20 p.m. to see if the shooting occurred at the New Year festival.
The scene in Monterey Park. Mass shooting with multiple casualties reported. We are awaiting word from police. No numbers confirmed. pic.twitter.com/ByYlaJo66A
— Steve Patterson (@PattersonNBC) January 22, 2023
The terrible scene Saturday night was in stark contrast to the peaceful community atmosphere earlier in the day.
Today’s LunarNewYear fest was wonderful. 10000s of ppl out, joyful, celebrating our culture. I can’t believe the day ended like this. And so close to home. Monterey Park is over 65% Asian– that cross st is like 95%. Shooter still at large, I’m still in shock, waiting for updates pic.twitter.com/2HUeQ42YqC
— philipwang (@philipwang) January 22, 2023
As of the time of publication, there is no information available about the assailant.
This is breaking news story. We will post updates as more information becomes available.
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