January 22, 2023 Monterey Park mass shooting news

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Sunday morning that he is "monitoring the situation closely" after a mass shooting left at least 10 people dead and 10 others injured in Monterey Park, California.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also issued a statement, calling reports of the massacre "absolutely devastating."

Monterey Park is located about seven miles from downtown Los Angeles.

"Families deserve to celebrate the holidays in peace — mass shootings and gun violence are a plague on our communities," Bass said. "As investigations determine whether these murders were motivated by Asian hate, we continue to stand united against all attempts to divide us."

Monterey Park is a predominantly Asian community, but authorities have not released any information about a potential motive for the killings. The shooting took place at a dance studio near a Lunar New Year festival.

A dance studio in Alhambra, California, said on social media that it will close in observance of a tragic mass shooting that occurred nearby in Monterey Park.

A gunman killed 10 people and wounded at least 10 more in the shooting Saturday night, according to law enforcement. Using geolocation, a CNN analysis identified the venue as Star Ballroom Dance Studio.

Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio, located in the neighboring city of Alhambra, posted on Instagram that it will be closed for the day Sunday and will cancel night classes until further notice.

The studio also noted that it will now search all students and teachers before they can enter the building.

It's unclear if there is any specific connection between the two studios, beyond their locations within about three miles of one another.

Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated the studio where the mass shooting took place. It occurred at Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, according to a CNN analysis.

At least 10 people are dead following a mass shooting Saturday night in Monterey Park, California. The shooting occurred at a dance studio and the suspect is still at large, according to authorities.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she is “heartbroken by the horrific shooting in Monterey Park, California” in a tweet Sunday.

The massacre happened at a dance studio as a Lunar New Year festival took place nearby. Police have not yet shared specific details about the nature of the gathering at the studio.

Monterey Park canceled its Lunar New Year events scheduled for Sunday.

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the mass shooting that killed at least 10 people and left at least 10 more wounded in Monterey Park, California, Saturday night, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Attorney General Merrick Garland have also received details on the shooting.

“The Vice President has been briefed on the mass shooting in Monterey Park, CA and asked to be updated regularly as more details are known,” Kirsten Allen, Harris’ press secretary, tweeted Sunday morning.

CNN's Jasmine Wright contributed to this report.

The FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office is working with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau, the Monterey Park Police and other agencies as they investigate the mass shooting that killed at least 10 people on Saturday night.

The sheriff's "Homicide Bureau is working closely with Chief Scott Wiese and his agency at the Monterey Park Police Department," LASD Homicide Capt. Andrew Meyer said Sunday.

"We're working with the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, The Federal Bureau of Investigation LA office and numerous other law enforcement agencies," he added.  

Saturday's mass shooting in Monterey Park, California, took place in the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, according to a CNN analysis.

Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Capt. Andrew Meyer said in a news conference the shooting took place in a local business in the 100 block of West Garvey Avenue in downtown Monterey Park. He later identified the business as a dance studio.

CNN geolocated a photo taken Saturday evening just after the shooting, posted on social media, from inside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio.

In that photo, at least two individuals are seen lying on the ground. Another individual is seen slumped, sitting on a couch.  

The Monterey Park community is 65.6% Asian, according to 2020 data from the city's website.

The city has 61,096 residents, according to the website, which provides the following demographic breakdown:

Asian 65.6%

Hispanic or Latino 28.5%

White 14%

Other race: 4.9%

Two or More Races: 1.8%

Black: 0.7%

The median age in the neighborhood is 43.1, the website adds.

It 's too early in the investigation to know if the suspect knew any of the victims or if this was a targeted shooting, police said.

"We will look at every angle as far as whether it's a hate crime or not. It's just too early in the investigation to know," said Capt. Andrew Meyer of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Saturday night's mass shooting in Monterey Park, California, happened near a Lunar New Year festival celebration. The event that was scheduled to be extended into Sunday is now canceled, according to Monterey Park Police Chief Scott Weise.

"The festival that occurred Saturday also extended to Sunday. Out of an abundance of caution and reverence for the victims, we are canceling the event that's going to happen later today. The Lunar festival here in Monterey Park has been canceled," he told reporters at a news conference.