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In Monterey Park, Leaders Reflect On Year After Shooting
Congressmember Judy Chu addresses a group of national, state and local leaders convened for the one-year anniversary of the Monterey Park shooting.
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Josie Huang
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LAist
)
Topline:
National, state and local leaders convened in Monterey Park for the one-year anniversary of the deadliest mass shooting in Los Angeles county history. Speakers, who included council members, Congressmember Judy Chu and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, honored the victims and spoke about the need for Congress to pass stricter gun control laws.
The backstory: On Jan. 21, 2023, a gunman attacked the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, killing 11 people and injuring nine. He then tried to attack the Lai Lai ballroom in Alhambra but an employee wrestled his gun away. He died of a self-inflicted gun wound. The shooter had reportedly once been part of a ballroom dance scene made up of older Asian immigrants. Police have not provided a motive.
What's next: The roundtable is part of a slate of remembrance events taking place in Monterey Park. A candlelight vigil is taking place outside Monterey Park City Hall at 6 p.m. The event will also be lit by lanterns decorated by community members as part of a project of the MPK Hope Resiliency Center, which was created after the shooting to assist survivors.
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After the vigil, a group of survivors is meeting for a meal and dancing in defiance, its organizer said, of the attack on their dance community.
Go deeper: One Year After The Monterey Park Shooting, A Ballroom Dance Scene Rebounds
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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