Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
Mourners Remember 11 Victims Of Monterey Park Shooting At Candlelight Vigil
Mourners light candles at a vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park.
(
Samanta Helou Hernandez
/
LAist
)
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.
“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.”
Sponsored message
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.
A memorial in front of Monterey Park City Hall for the victims of the mass shooting at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio.
(
Samanta Helou Hernandez
/
LAist
)
Flower arrangements were placed in front of Monterey Park City Hall to honor the victims of the mass shooting.
(
Samanta Helou Hernandez
/
LAist
)
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
/
LAist
)
Images of some of the victims of the mass shooting at a memorial in front of the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park.
(
Samanta Helou Hernandez
/
LAist
)
The Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park where the mass shooting took place sits empty.
(
Samanta Helou Hernandez
/
LAist
)
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 candlelight vigil honoring the victims of the mass shooting in Monterey Park.
(
Samanta Helou Hernandez
/
LAist
)
Sponsored message
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
)
A community event at the Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio featured dance lessons and mental health clinicians.
(
Josie Huang
/
LAist
)
How to help
GoFundMe has set up a dedicated fundraising page to support survivors and loved ones of the mass shooting. The list includes:
- Monterey Park Lunar New Year Victims Fund (all funds will go to those affected by the shooting)
- Classroom of Compassion in Monterey Park, CA (all funds go toward travel and expenses to install public altars for those who have died — which organizers have done for other shootings)
GoFundMe says these funds are verified, meaning their team is ensuring donations will be used as claimed. You can see the full list here.
Resources for the AAPI community
If you need help
- The Chinatown Service Center's behavioral health team is offering on call support at: 213-808-1700
- The Chinatown Service Center and City of Monterey Park will offer drop-in, multilingual counseling services on select days through Feb. 3 at Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library:
318 S. Ramona Ave. - The Asian Mental Health Collective has a U.S. therapist directory with professionals who specialize in serving the AAPI community.
- AMHC also has a range of free mental health support groups.
- The AAPI Equity Alliance has put together a resource directory for those in need of trauma support
- NAMI California’s list of AAPI mental health resources
- The Asians For Mental Health Therapist Directory
- The California Victims Compensation Board reimburses mental health services for victims and their families.
- Changing Tides, part of the Little Tokyo Service Center, offers stipends for AAPI youth seeking therapy. (https://thechangingtides.org/)
Resources for anyone in crisis
Ask For Help
- Steinberg Institute website, links to mental health resources and care throughout California
- Institute on Aging's 24/7 Friendship Line (especially for people who have disabilities or are over 60), 1-800-971-0016 or call 415-750-4138 to volunteer.
- Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, 24/7 Access Line 1-800-854-7771.
- The Crisis Text Line, Text "HOME" (741-741) to reach a trained crisis counselor.
- California Psychological Association Find a Psychologist Locator
- Psychology Today guide to therapist
If You Need Immediate Help
- If you or someone you know is in crisis and need immediate help, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or go here for online chat.
More Guidance
- Find 5 Action Steps for helping someone who may be suicidal, from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
- Six questions to ask to help assess the severity of someone's suicide risk, from the Columbia Lighthouse Project.
- To prevent a future crisis, here's how to help someone make a safety plan.
Sponsored message
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
