At least nine people were killed and many others injured after a mass shooting in Monterey Park, California, on Saturday night, said Sgt. Bob Boese of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed to the Associated Press on Sunday morning. The shooting took place in an area where people were gathering to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
A heavy police presence responded to the 120 block of West Garvey Avenue in Monterey Park, a city in Los Angeles County, according to photos and videos on Citizen, an app designed to allow residents to report crime in their local area.
Several police vehicles were seen blocking an open area between a GBC International Bank and TS Emporium, a Chinese grocery store. Entertainment venues, shops and restaurants lined W Garvey Avenue on Saturday night.
The Monterey Park Fire Department told Fox News Digital that a mass shooting occurred, but could not confirm how many people may have been hit by gunfire. Monterey police have yet to release any information about the shooting, but said a news conference is scheduled for 7 a.m. PST.
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A Citizen user reported that 16 people were also injured in the shooting. A Twitter account tracking the local police scanner similarly reported that 16 people were injured. These figures have not been confirmed by local authorities.
Boese said the shooter is male, but did not release any other identifying information.
Many people gathered in the city on Saturday night to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the “Year of the Rabbit”.
According to the Monterey Park city government website, the Lunar New Year festival features “vendors offering unique gifts and specialty items, food booths with various types of delicious items, carnival rides, and lots of live entertainment.”
The festival kicked off on Saturday morning and featured “various types of entertainment,” the website added. And: “A carnival fun zone will be featured in the parking lots at the corner of Garvey and Lincoln avenues.”
“Previous Lunar New Year events at Monterey Park have drawn estimated crowds of over 100,000 visitors per day from throughout the Southern California area,” he also said.
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(FoxNews)
A heavy police presence was reported in Monterey Park, California, on Saturday night amid reports of a possible mass shooting.
(Citizen Application)
Fox News Digital has contacted the Monterey Park Police Department for additional information.
This is a developing story. Updates will be added as more information becomes available.
