A witness that was at a dance studio in Monterey Park during a mass shooting describes what the scene looked like when shots rang out. Hetty Chang reports for the NBC4 News on Jan. 22, 2023.
A gunman opened fired and killed at least 10 people and wounded 10 others at a Monterey Park dance studio during a Lunar New Year celebration Saturday.
The shooting happened at Star Dance Studio on West Garvey Avenue, where investigators were seen coming in and out of the business on Sunday.
Star Dance Studio was hosting an event to celebrate the countdown to the Chinese Lunar New Year, advertised as having dancing, snacks, prizes, a photo booth, and games.
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A man who was inside the dance studio Saturday night described the scene when shots rang out, saying the studio was playing disco music and people were line dancing.
The music was loud and it was a very festive environment when he began to hear gunshots, initially thinking they were fireworks for the Lunar New Year celebration.
"First I thought it was firecrackers and later I saw people fall down," he said. "Also, people in the ballroom started running."
He did not want to be identified for safety reasons as police still sought for the gunman at the time he spoke to NBC.
Once he realized they were not firecrackers he laid on the floor. He said 50 to 60 people were inside the studio at the time.
He said he has friends that were injured during the shooting and are now at hospitals.
A woman next to him appeared to be shot in the arm and she asked him to call the police.
He described the studio as being very popular and that it has been around the community at that particular location for 20 to 30 years. The studio is known for hosting dancing events, karaoke and dance classes to members of the community.
Photos on their website include images of previous events with families and young children in attendance. The studio appears to be a communal space where families gather together and celebrate the art of dance.
According to its website, the studio features professional and award-winning instructors from across the ballroom world. The classes offered include tango, waltz, kid's Latin, kid's ballet, along with traditional Chinese dances.
Events are frequently promoted on their social media sites and bring out people from a wide range of ages.
The studio first opened in 1990 and switched ownership in 2013.
A memorial honoring the victims of the shooting has been set up at Monterey Park City Hall for anyone wanting to mourn or express their grief.
