The shooting occurred on the night of a Lunar New Year celebration in an iconic city in the history of Asian immigration to the United States.
When it was over, 10 people were dead and 10 others wounded. Authorities said based on a preliminary description that the gunman was an Asian male.
But among rising violence and incidents of bias, the killings in this city on Saturday have sent shock waves and questions through the Asian community.
“This is [supposed to be] a happy time,” said Edwin Chen, a 47-year-old delivery dispatcher, who rushed to Monterey Park early Sunday after hearing news of the massacre. “It’s still shocking.”
Officials stressed they are far from determining a motive in the attack.
Asked whether the case was being investigated as a hate crime, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said: “Everything is on the table. … Who walks into a dance hall and guns down 20 people?”
Hours before the shooting, crowds were enjoying skewers and shopping for Chinese food and jewelry at a Lunar New Year festival next to the shooting site, in the 100 block of West Garvey Avenue.
Monterey Park’s two-day Lunar New Year festival had been scheduled to conclude Sunday. But additional events were canceled “out of an abundance of caution and in reverence for the victims,” Monterey Park Police Chief Scott Wiese said.
Another festival set for Sunday at the USC Pacific Asia Museum also has been canceled. “All of us … are heartbroken to hear about the horrific violence that happened in our home in the San Gabriel Valley,” Bethany Montagano, the museum director, said in a statement. “Our hearts mourn with the victims’ families and our community members at this time.”
Several other festivals were scheduled to continue Sunday as planned. Police are vowing extra security.
Luna said he would be attending a Lunar New Year celebration later Sunday. “I encourage people to go out and enjoy the events.”
In California, hate crimes against Asian Americans…
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