Authorities in California say they're investigating the chance that a male suspect believed to have shot and killed 10 folks at a Lunar New Years celebration could have entered a second dance corridor close by about half-hour later.
The weapon he was carrying was wrestled away by somebody on the Alhambra dance studio and handed over to police. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna additionally stated at a press convention Sunday that the suspect who left 10 folks lifeless and 10 injured on the Star Ballroom Dance Studio remains to be at massive.
Luna says the weapon obtained by police “was not an assault rifle.”
“We consider that there’s an incident which may be associated,” Luna stated of the confrontation in Alhambra.
A white cargo van was additionally seen leaving the second dance corridor, however authorities can't affirm whether it is linked to the crimes.
The capturing occurred within the coronary heart of downtown Monterey Park the place purple lanterns embellished the streets for the Lunar New 12 months festivities. A police automotive was parked close to a big banner that proclaimed “Pleased 12 months of the Rabbit!”
The celebration in Monterey Park is one among California’s largest and had attracted tens of hundreds all through the day.
Two days of festivities, which have been attended by as many as 100,000 folks in previous years, have been deliberate. However officers canceled Sunday’s occasions following the capturing.
Tony Lai, 35, of Monterey Park was shocked when he got here out for his early morning stroll to be taught that the noises he heard within the night time have been gunshots.
“I assumed possibly it was fireworks. I assumed possibly it had one thing to do with Lunar New 12 months,” he stated. “And we don’t even get numerous fireworks right here. It’s bizarre to see this. It’s actually protected right here. We’re proper in the midst of town, however it’s actually protected.”
The tragedy marked not simply the fifth mass killing within the US for the reason that begin of the yr but additionally the deadliest since Might 24, when 21 folks have been killed in a faculty in Uvalde, Texas, in line with The Related Press/USA As we speak database on mass killings within the US.
The database additionally reveals that 2022 was additionally one of many nation's worst years by way of mass killings, with 42 such assaults — the second-highest quantity for the reason that creation of the tracker in 2006. The database defines a mass killing as 4 folks killed not together with the perpetrator.
The most recent violence comes two months after 5 folks have been killed at a Colorado Springs nightclub.
The White Home stated President Joe Biden was briefed on the scenario by Homeland Safety Adviser Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall.
Legal professional Basic Merrick Garland was additionally briefed, Justice Division spokesperson Dena Iverson stated.
The capturing occurred at Star Ballroom Dance Studio, a number of blocks from metropolis corridor on Monterey Park's principal thoroughfare of Garvey Avenue, which is dotted with strip malls of small companies whose indicators are in each English and Chinese language. Cantonese and Mandarin are each extensively spoken, Chinese language holidays are celebrated, and Chinese language movies are screened recurrently within the metropolis.
The enterprise provided dance classes from Tango to Rumba to the Fox Trot, and rented its house for occasions. On Saturday, its web site stated it was internet hosting an occasion referred to as “Star Evening” from 8 pm to 11.30 pm.
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Related Press author Julie Watson in San Diego contributed to this report.