Suspect in Chinese New Year massacre that killed ten 'shoots himself' inside van during SWAT shootout

22 January 2023, 09:13 | Updated: 22 January 2023, 22:59

The suspect in a Chinese New Year massacre which killed ten people is thought to have shot himself during a three-hour police stand-off.

A SWAT team in California broke into a white van after a lengthy shootout, finding piles of bloody sheets.

The unnamed suspect is said to have shot himself dead during the crossfire.

Police earlier released an image of the man accused of killing ten people in a mass shooting at a Chinese New Year event as he fights a stand-off with a SWAT team.

Ten were killed and at least ten more injured in the shooting after a Lunar New Year event.

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Police responded to the incident, which took place in Monterey Park, a city of about 60,000 people with a large Asian-American population about eight miles east of Los Angeles.

The shooting took place at about 22:00 local time on Saturday night (6am in the UK), with reports suggesting it may have taken place in a nightclub.

The suspect was on the run for twelve hours after the killings, having fled the scene after the deadly attack.

Sergeant Bob Boese of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said the shooting took place at a business, and the attacker was male.

The department said in a statement: "Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide detectives are responding to assist Monterey Park Police Department with a shooting death investigation.

"There is no additional information available at this time."

Tens of thousands of people had gathered in the park on Saturday afternoon for a festival to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The festival is reportedly one of the largest of its kind in the region.

A local business owner said that people taking refuge from the attack said that the gunman was using a submachine gun, and had multiple rounds of ammunition.

Kenneth Mejia, a local elected official in LA, said: "Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones tonight in our neighboring city, Monterey Park, where a mass shooting just occurred.

"Monterey Park is home to one of the largest Asian communities in Los Angeles County and many were out celebrating the Lunar New Year."