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Mourners Remember 11 Victims Of Monterey Park Shooting At Candlelight Vigil

By  Josie Huang  and Samanta Helou Hernandez
Published Jan 25, 2023 10:46 AM
Three Asian women wearing winter coats kneel in front of dozens of candles. One woman lights an incense using one of the votive candles while another places tea candles in a heart formation on the ground. Their faces are illuminated by the warm glow of candlelight.
Mourners light candles at a vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park.
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Samanta Helou Hernandez
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LAist
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Hundreds of people attended a vigil Tuesday night to honor the victims of Saturday’s shooting in Monterey Park, in which 11 people were killed and another nine injured.

Speaking at the vigil, Maychelle Yee, Monterey Park's city clerk, said the community will be resilient.

“The city of Monterey Park will not be defined by the heinous act of a cowardly individual," she said. "We are so much more.”

City Treasurer Amy Lee noted the victims were mostly of retirement age.

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“They worked so hard as immigrants to build a future, and this was their time to enjoy it," Lee said. "To have that taken away in such a violent manner is incomprehensible.”

Lee noted the attack was the third mass shooting in California in as many days.

“It is so easy at this time to become numb," she said. "We must resist the urge to dismiss this as a one-time incident. We know it is not.”

President Biden sent a message through an aide, who read a letter from Biden telling the people of Monterey Park they are in the nation’s prayers and that none of the victims will be forgotten.

White wooden posts with blue paper hearts tacked onto them are lined up in front of lit white candles, flowers and photographs. Each heart has a person's name and handwritten notes in black ink. It is night.
A memorial in front of Monterey Park City Hall for the victims of the mass shooting at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio.
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Samanta Helou Hernandez
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LAist
)
A diptych collage. The first vertical image is of two Asian women wearing winter coats and masks standing together. One stands slightly behind the other and places an arm and chin on the other woman's shoulder. They gaze down at a memorial that is out of frame. The second image is of a colorful flower arrangement with two ribbons that read "In memory of the victims of the Monterey Park massacre" "From: Amy Lee-Monterey Park Treasurer."
Flower arrangements were placed in front of Monterey Park City Hall to honor the victims of the mass shooting.
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Samanta Helou Hernandez
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LAist
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A close-up of a handwritten note in green pen on white paper. It reads: "Monterey Park, you have welcomed immigrants and lost ones and gave them a home. Tito Val, may you dance in heaven with the creator, we love you. May these families heal in time. Give them love. Give them strength and will to go on."
Written messages at a memorial in front of the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park where the mass shooting took place.
(
Samanta Helou Hernandez
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LAist
)
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Large photos of four people are framed with flower wreaths. Candles are lit below the photos. They depict two women and two men.
Images of some of the victims of the mass shooting at a memorial in front of the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park.
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Samanta Helou Hernandez
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LAist
)
An empty ballroom dance studio is shown at night. In the center, its name, "Star Ballroom," is written in all capital, red letters across the top of one wall. Clusters of purple balloons can be seen on the floor and on the wall. A number of chairs and small tables are visible as well.
The Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park where the mass shooting took place sits empty.
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Samanta Helou Hernandez
/
LAist
)

A man and woman wearing black coats and light blue masks kneel near a memorial. The woman is crouching her head into the mans shoulder and looks as if she's crying. The man looks out towards the left of frame with his gaze slightly lowered. He hugs the woman.
Mourners at the vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park.
(
Samanta Helou Hernandez
/
LAist
)
A diptych with one vertical photo of an Asian woman wearing a fluffy gray coat and white mask. She holds a yellow flower and candle. On the right there's a vertical photo of various lit candles and tea candles in a heart formation. A hand can be seen entering the top right of frame lighting the tea candles with an incense.
A candlelight vigil honoring the victims of the mass shooting in Monterey Park.
(
Samanta Helou Hernandez
/
LAist
)
A mound of flower bouquets take up most of the frame. In the background candles are lit. On the right of frame a woman with a white mask on squats looking at the memorial while holding a lit candle.
A woman places a candle at a memorial in front of the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park where the mass shooting took place.
(
Samanta Helou Hernandez
/
LAist
)
An Asian man with a beige puffer jacket and tattoos on his neck stands in a larger crowd holding a white candle and looking out in front of him.
A community event at the Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio featured dance lessons and mental health clinicians.
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Josie Huang
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LAist
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How to help

  • GoFundMe has set up a dedicated fundraising page to support survivors and loved ones of the mass shooting. The list includes:

  • GoFundMe says these funds are verified, meaning their team is ensuring donations will be used as claimed. You can see the full list here.

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