Headline RoundupJanuary 22nd, 2023

Shooting Near East LA Lunar New Year Celebration Leaves 11 Dead

Summary from the AllSides News Team

On Saturday night, a shooter killed 11 and wounded 10 more at a ballroom dance club in Monterey Park, California. 

The Details: The gunman was described by witnesses as firing indiscriminately on attendees of the Star Ballroom Dance Studio. Of the deceased victims, five were female and five were male. The conditions of the wounded range from stable to critical. The 72-year-old suspect was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot on Sunday after a standoff with police.

For Context: The shooting was the deadliest in the U.S. since a gunman in Uvalde, TX killed 21 in May 2022. Authorities believe the shooting may be tied to an incident that occurred about 30 minutes later in nearby Alhambra, where an Asian male reportedly entered Lai Lai Ballroom with a gun before attendees wrestled it away from him. Both Monterey Park and Alhambra are neighborhoods with large Asian communities.

Key Quotes: A resident of Monterey Park said, "I thought maybe it was fireworks… We’re right in the middle of the city, but it’s really safe." Captain Andrew Meyer of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said in a briefing, "We will look at every angle... it's too early in the investigation to know whether this incident was a hate crime or not."

How The Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum have reported events, context, and key quotes from authorities similarly. Updated 1/23/23 at 8:15 am ET with the suspect being found. Updated 1/25/23: the death toll was raised to 11.

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