The Lunar New Year celebration didn't exactly turn out well for the people of Monterey Park. About ten people were wounded when an armed man opened fire at a ballroom dance studio, causing an urgent search for a criminal on the run, according to the local authorities.
Keep reading for the details.
The unidentified shooter rained on the parade of merrymakers as he shot into the crowd who gathered to celebrate the Lunar New Year outside Los Angeles on Saturday night.
This city houses about 61,000 Asian Americans who celebrate the annual Lunar New Year, featuring sold-out Asian restaurants and filled-up markets.
According to local authorities, the shooting occurred around 10:22 p.m., and it was unclear if the lone gunman who carried out the act was motivated by hate or was just a targeted attack.
According to Captain Andrew Meyer of the LA County Sheriff's Department, officers were welcomed by victims of shootings and screams upon their arrival at the location.
"When officers arrived on scene they observed numerous individuals, patrons of the location, pouring out of the location, screaming. The officers made entry to the location and located additional victims.”
First responders at the venue confirmed that about ten victims were fatally shot at the ballroom dance studio on West Garvey Avenue.
“There are at least ten additional victims that were transported to numerous local hospitals and are listed in various conditions from stable to critical,” Meyer said to news outlets.
Local authorities are currently trying to connect the missing dots between this incident and another which happened very close to the scene in Alhambra.
This city is located in the San Gabriel Valley which is about 8 miles away from downtown Los Angeles.
A restaurant owner identified as Seung Won Choi, whose establishment lay across the street from the shooting scene, revealed that about three people warned him to lock his door when the shooting started.
He confirmed that the shooter had a "machine gun with multiple rounds of ammunition."
Following the unfortunate account and the need to investigate further, local police confirmed that the Lunar Festival would no longer take place.
The Monterey Park Police Chief, Scott Wiese, confirmed the cancelation in a statement.
“Out of an abundance of caution and reverence for the victims, we are canceling the event."
Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. It's the most important holiday in China and is widely celebrated in other Asian countries.
In the Chinese Zodiac, 2023 is the year of the rabbit. Shopping for holiday items in open-air markets and cleaning the house are beloved Lunar New Year traditions.
While the official dates for holidays vary according to different cultures, people use this opportunity as a chance to spend time and celebrate with friends and families.
