Ten people were killed in a mass shooting while celebrating the Chinese Lunar Year in the city of Monterey Park, California, on Saturday, a news media reported.
“Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives are responding to assist Monterey Park Police Department with a shooting death investigation. There are nine deceased,” the Sheriff’s department said in a statement.
The owner of a nearby restaurant said that he overheard people who sought shelter in his restaurant “there is a man with a machine gun in the area.” The said gunner has had multiple rounds with him as he reloaded his machine gun once his ammunition ran out.
“The shooting took place after 10 pm (0600 GMT on Sunday) around the location of a Chinese Lunar New Year celebration held in Monterey Park,” U.S. media reported.
“Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones tonight in our neighboring city, Monterey Park, where a mass shooting just occurred,” Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia said in a tweet.
“Monterey Park is home to one of the largest Asian communities in Los Angeles County, and many were out celebrating the Lunar New Year,” he added.
Monterey Park is a city in Los Angeles county, around 7 miles (11 km) from downtown Los Angeles. Tens of thousands of people had attended the two-day festival, the report said. There is no clarity on how many people were shot.