10 killed in shooting during Chinese Lunar New Year celebration in California
2 min read . Updated: 22 Jan 2023, 05:39 PM IST
PremiumTen people have died in a mass shooting in a predominantly Asian city in southern California, local law enforcement said Sunday
Ten people were killed in a mass shooting that happened late Saturday night in a city east of Los Angeles following a Lunar New Year celebration that was attended by thousands of people, according to police.
According to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Bob Boese, the shooting was reported at a store on Garvey Ave. in Monterey Park at 10:22 p.m. The shooter is a male, Boese said early Sunday.
Captain Andrew Meyers of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said officers had responded to emergency calls around 10:20pm on Saturday and found people pouring out of the premises.
"The officers made entry to the location and located additional victims," he said.
"The Monterey Park Police Fire Department responded to the scene and treated the injured and pronounced 10 of the victims deceased at the scene.
"There are at least 10 additional victims that were transported to numerous local hospitals and are listed in various conditions from stable to critical. The suspect fled the scene and remains outstanding."
Numerous police officers responded to reports of the shooting, but no information was provided by officials for several hours.
Located about 10 miles (16 kilometres) outside of downtown Los Angeles, Monterey Park is a city of about 61,000 people with a sizable Asian population.
Owner of the Clam House seafood barbecue restaurant across the street from the scene of the shooting, Seung Won Choi, told the Los Angeles Times that three people barged in and ordered him to lock the door.
The witnesses also informed Choi of the existence of a shooter with a machine gun who was carrying a number of rounds of ammunition so he could reload.
Saturday was the start of the two-day festival, which is one of the largest Lunar New Year events in Southern California.
Gun violence in US
Gun violence is a major issue in the United States, and incidents of gun violence occur frequently across the country. According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, in 2020, there were over 43,000 incidents of gun violence in the United States, resulting in over 110,000 deaths. This includes incidents of mass shootings, homicides, and suicides.
According to the website Gun Violence Archive, an incident with four or more people shot or killed, not including the shooter is definition of a mass shooting. The United States experienced 647 mass shootings last year, illustrating the severity of the issue with guns.
The causes of gun violence in the US are complex and multifaceted. Some factors that have been identified as contributing to the problem include easy access to firearms, a lack of comprehensive background checks and regulations, and social and economic factors such as poverty, racism, and mental illness.
The issue of gun violence has been the subject of much debate and controversy in the US, with different groups advocating for different solutions.
Some argue for stricter gun control laws, such as universal background checks, banning certain types of weapons, and increasing funding for mental health services. Others argue for a more permissive approach, such as loosening restrictions on gun ownership and emphasizing the importance of the Second Amendment.
(With inputs from agencies)
