Joe and Jill Biden pay tribute to 10 victims of Chinese Lunar New Year dance studio massacre

The president and first lady shared their condolences for the victims of the mass shooting Saturday night during Lunar New Year that left 10 dead and 10 others injured at a California dance studio.

President Joe Biden tweeted that he and his wife Jill were “praying for those killed and injured” in the mass shooting, saying he was closely monitoring the situation as police officers continue to search for the shooter.

Shortly after Biden’s statement, Vice President Kamala Harris took to Twitter Sunday afternoon to speak out against the “senseless act of gun violence,” noting that she and her husband Doug were praying for the victims.

The shooter discharged a weapon inside the Lai Lai Ballroom about an hour after a nearby Chinese Lunar New Year celebration. The weapon involved is not believed to be an assault weapon as previously reported.

President Biden advised local residents to follow law enforcement instructions as the search for the shooter continues.

“Jill and I are praying for those killed and injured in last night’s deadly mass shooting in Monterey Park,” he wrote.

“I am monitoring this situation closely as it unfolds, and I urge the community to follow the instructions of local officials and law enforcement in the coming hours.”

Vice President Harris wrote that she and the president were supporting local authorities as the investigation continued.

“Overnight another community was torn apart by a senseless act of gun violence,” he wrote. “To the affected families of Monterey Park: Doug and I mourn with you and pray for you.”

‘@POTUS and I will continue to provide full support to local authorities as we learn more.’

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke out in support of the victims of Sunday’s massacre.

Lunar New Year Sunday celebrations in the area of ​​the mass shooting were cancelled.

The update came as a desperate manhunt is still underway by police in the Los Angeles area. The suspect has been described as an Asian male.

The gruesome footage showed the victims being dragged from the scene before being rushed to hospital as police and ambulances poured into the area.

Police officers said crowds of terrified festival-goers poured out of the area “screaming” as bullets continued to fly.

Monterey Park canceled Lunar New Year events that were scheduled to take place near and around the ballroom on Sunday.

Dozens of police and firefighters invaded the scene, but the gunman was still on the loose as of Sunday morning.

Firefighters were seen treating the injured in the parking lot outside the dance studio on Saturday night.

Interior of the Star Ballroom in Monterey Park, California, where the shooting occurred on Saturday night.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said the 10 victims who were injured but not pronounced dead at the scene are in stable or critical condition.

Luna said members of her force are feverishly searching for the suspect: ‘I see it in their eyes. They want to go find this guy, and they’re going to.

He added that it’s unclear if the ballroom massacre was related to a second shooting that occurred two miles down the road in the minutes after the first shooting.

Scott Wiese, the Monterey Park police chief, said that while it is now safe to attend Lunar New Year celebrations in other parts of the community, the investigation launched today is extensive and “will last for many days and perhaps many months”. ‘

Wiese said law enforcement is seeking information from the community and hopes members will work closely with law enforcement as the search continues.