Lunar New Year Marred by Bloodshed... At Least 10 Dead in Mass Shooting Near LA (Comprehensive Report 2)

America's First Asian-Majority City... Possible Asian Hate Crime
Specific Details Such as Motive Still Unclear

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] A mass shooting occurred after a Lunar New Year event in a city near Los Angeles (LA), USA, where many Asian residents live, resulting in numerous casualties. Although the motive and identities of the victims have not yet been revealed, authorities are on high alert for the possibility of a hate crime, considering the incident coincided with an Asian festival.

According to major U.S. media on the 21st (local time), around 10 p.m., a man opened fire with a semi-automatic weapon at a dance club near Garvey Avenue in the city of Monterey Park, located in southwestern California.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Local media reported that at least 10 people were killed and 10 others injured in the incident. The injured have been transported to several nearby medical facilities for treatment. Local police have not disclosed the specific identities of the victims, and details such as the motive remain unclear.

Monterey Park is about 16 km from LA and has a population of approximately 60,000, with 65% of residents being Asian Americans. Immigrant communities from China, Taiwan, Japan, and Vietnam have settled there, making it the first city in the continental U.S. where Asians constitute the majority.

Given the increased resentment toward Asian residents, including those from China, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the possibility of a hate crime targeting Asians has been raised. The fact that the incident occurred during the Lunar New Year, an Asian festival, is also a significant factor to consider. In fact, there has been a recent surge in random hate crimes targeting Asians in major U.S. cities.

Local police have classified this incident as a mass shooting and are conducting an investigation, with plans to continue releasing updates on the investigation results.