The city of Monterey Park held a candlelight vigil Tuesday night to commemorate the second anniversary of the mass shooting that killed 11 people in the city.
The event commemorated those killed in the Jan. 21, 2023 mass shooting, while also giving people the opportunity to:
“We stand together against violence.”
According to the city, “The vigil will feature the opinions of local leaders, and groups involved in healing activities will also participate.” “Attendees are encouraged to bring flowers or memorabilia and place them near the flagpole in front of City Hall.”
The memorabilia will be on display until January 30th.
On January 21, 2023, gunman Phu Quang Tran entered the Star Ballroom Dance Studio and opened fire, killing 11 people and seriously injuring nine others.
The gunman then went to the Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio in the Alhambra and attempted to enter, but was stopped by Brandon Tsei. The young man was hailed as a hero for confronting and disarming the gunman, saving lives.
The 72-year-old gunman killed himself the next day after being pulled over by police outside a Torrance strip mall.
“Today, I mourn, honor, and cherish the memory of the 11 lives of Asian descent lost,” Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, said in a statement Tuesday. “My thoughts are with the families of the victims and survivors who continue to work through the grief and trauma of that day. What should have been a joyous Lunar New Year celebration, a momentous time for the Asian American community, has been tragically overshadowed. A night of senseless violence that changed our community forever.”
The shooting, the deadliest in Los Angeles County history, occurred on the eve of Lunar New Year in a predominantly Asian-American community considered the nation’s first suburban Chinatown.
After the shooting, then-President Joe Biden visited Monterey Park to comfort the victims’ families and announce executive actions aimed at reducing gun violence. He also took time during his State of the Union address on February 7, 2023, to call for stricter gun laws.
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