'Multiple casualties' reported as gunman opens fire at Chinese New Year party
22.01.2023 - 13:47
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Several casualties have been reported following a shooting during Chinese Lunar New Year Celebrations in the US.
The Mirror reports the incident unfolded at around 10pm local time (6am UK time) a few miles east of Los Angeles, California as thousands gathered in Monterey Park for a two-day celebration. Footage shared on social media appears to show police officers descending on the area and firefighters treating victims.
According to the LA Times, internal police logs suggest some of the shootings were fatal. Seung Won Choi, who owns a seafood barbecue restaurant across the street from where the shooting took place, told the US newspaper three people rushed into his restaurant and told him to lock the door.
Choi added the gunman appeared to have multiple rounds of ammunition with him and had been seen to reload his firearm. Choi said he believes the shooting took place at a dance club.
A 27-year-old man named John told US reporters he heard about four or five gunshots from nearby. He added that squad cars had come "crashing" down the street to respond to the emergency.
Edwin Chen, a 47-year-old delivery dispatcher, told the LA Times he grew up in the area and had a dozen family and friends in the city. He said: “This is [supposed to be] a happy time. I want to find out as much as possible. It’s still shocking.”
Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia, the first Asian American to hold citywide office in Los Angeles, tweeted: “Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones tonight in our neighboring city, Monterey Park, where a mass shooting just occurred."
The Associated Press said "dozens" of police officers were involved in the response to the shooting in Monterey Park, around 10 miles from downtown LA. The agency says the