In breaking news Sunday evening, law enforcement announced that the suspect linked to the Lunar New Year massacre was found dead in a van said to be linked to the crime scene.
Fox News reported he was found dead Sunday afternoon after what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Law enforcement sources said the man shot himself and died following a standoff with a "barricaded suspect" in a van in Torrance, located roughly 30 miles southwest of Monterey Park, where Saturday's shooting unfolded.
Witnesses told the Los Angeles Times that the shooting began around 10 p.m. on Saturday night. Police responded to the scene and began evacuating the building.
"It's a tragedy, said Monterey Park Police Chief Jim Smith. "We feel for the families and the victims of this terrible shooting."
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which is leading the investigation, said that the suspect is still at large, and they are asking anyone with information to come forward.
"This violence has to stop," said Monterey Park Mayor Peter Chan. "We have to do something to keep our communities safe and make sure that these tragedies don't happen again."
The shooting also prompted a response from the National Rifle Association (NRA), which said in a statement: "The NRA supports reasonable measures that protect the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans while keeping our communities safe from those who would do us harm."
The tragedy has cast a pall over the Lunar New Year celebrations, which are typically a time for family and friends to gather and celebrate.
"It's heartbreaking," said Ronald Yang, a Monterey Park resident. "This should not have happened. We are all in shock."
According to the New York Post, Monterey Park police officers were able to respond quickly to the scene and contain the situation. However, the suspect is still at large, and they are asking anyone with information to come forward.
President Biden has proposed several new gun control measures, including universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons.
"We need to do something to keep our communities safe," Biden said in a statement. "We don't want these tragedies to happen again."
The shooting in Monterey Park is a stark reminder of the need for armed citizens in the United States. Despite the efforts of law enforcement, it is clear that something must be done to keep our communities safe from gun violence.
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