Ten people are dead and at least ten more are injured in hospital after a mass shooting in the US city Los Angeles, with the gunman still on the loose.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the shooting occurred at 10.22pm on Saturday night, local time, in Monterey Park, about 16 kilometres from downtown Los Angeles. It appears to have taken place at a dance club.
“The Monterey Park Fire Department responded to the scene and treated the injured, and pronounced ten of the victims deceased at the scene,” Captain Andrew Meyer said.
“There are at least ten additional victims that were transported to numerous local hospitals and are listed in various conditions, from stable to critical.
“When officers arrived on scene, they observed numerous individuals, patrons of the location, pouring out of the location screaming. The officers made try to the location and located additional victims.
The gunman, a male, “fled the scene and remains outstanding”, he said.
US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation, and has directed the FBI to provide “full support to local authorities”.
Earlier, The Los Angeles Times relayed an estimate from a police source that there were “more than a dozen” casualties.
The publication spoke to a restaurant owner from the area, Seung Won Choi, who said three people rushed him into his seafood barbeque restaurant and told him to look the door, saying a man with a semiautomatic gun was nearby.
A Chinese New Year festival which typically attracts up to 100,000 people had been taking place in the area. It is unclear whether the shooting was linked to that event.
Wong Wei told the publication he was at the dance club in question on Saturday night. He said his friend emerged from a bathroom after the shooting started and saw three bodies.
John, 27, who declined to give his last name, lives near the shooting site and told The LA Times he heard gunshots after arriving home at 10pm.
“My first concern was I know they’re having a Lunar New Year celebration,” he said.
Videos posted on social media showed police and fire units swarming an area on Garvey Avenue and treating victims.
“Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones tonight in our neighbouring city, Monterey Park, where a mass shooting just occurred,” said Los Angeles city controller Kenneth Mejia, writing on Twitter.
While the motive for the shooting is unclear, Simu Liu, an actor best known for his role as Shang-Chi in the Marvel cinematic universe, suggested it could be racially motivated.
“A terrible act,” he said.
“For those who are unfamiliar, Monterey Park is a city in LA County that is majority AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islanders). It’s the home of Asian American families, parents, grandparents, siblings, sons and daughters, aunts and uncles. All of whom were looking forward to celebrating the New Year this weekend.
“I am shocked, saddened, angered and heartbroken for the families who have been affected tonight.”
He requested links to any fundraisers that emerge for the victims, saying “I’d like to give what I can”.
