Rep. Chu's message to community: Go to Lunar New Year celebrations
Rep. Judy Chu, a Democratic congresswoman who represents Monterey Park, told “GMA3” that she wants to know the gunman’s motive for Saturday night’s massacre that claimed 10 lives.
“For him to do this right after we had our opening celebration of Lunar New Year was just horrific. There were thousands of people that were only one block away celebrating this very, very important holiday,” she said. “It was a joyous time that immediately turned to tragedy."
Chu said the community is “beginning the healing process.”
“It’s been a horrific 24 hours. People were so fearful and anxious about an active shooter being out there in the community,” she said.
The suspect was found dead on Sunday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a van in Torrance, about 30 miles southwest of Monterey Park, according to police.
“My message to the community is: you are safe,” Chu said. “And it's so important for people to heal and to go to the Lunar New Year celebrations that they have been looking forward to all year long.”
Chu added, “The feelings of Asian Americans are very raw right now because we've just come from three years of anti-Asian hate due to COVID.”
“In fact, the reason that everybody was so enthusiastic about this Lunar New Year is that it was on hiatus for three years due to COVID. This was the first time it was being done in three years where everybody was together and in person,” she said. “So it should have been a wonderful time for our community.”
-ABC News’ John Streaman
