At least 10 people have been killed in a shooting in Monterey Park, California, during a Lunar New Year celebration.
The city, which is located east of Los Angeles, had been hosting an event commemorating the Lunar New Year (22 January), also referred to as Chinese New Year, which thousands of people had been attending.
During the celebrations a shooter opened fire at around 10:22pm local time at an as yet unspecified business premises on Garvey Avenue, with police responding to a call reporting shots fired.
Advert
The shooter is now on the run, with Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirming the gunman 'fled the scene and remains outstanding'.
10 people have been confirmed dead at the scene of the shooting, while at least 10 more have been injured and transported to nearby hospitals with some described as being in 'critical' condition.
Officers confirmed that their suspect is a male and are appealing to the public for anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.
Captain Andrew Meyer of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said officers arrived on the scene at around 10:30pm local time and found people were 'pouring out of the location screaming'.
Advert
Officers went inside where they found a number of victims, with firefighters also on hand to help treat the wounded and respond to the emergency.
Local businessman Seung Won Choi owns a seafood restaurant near the site of the shooting, and told the Los Angeles Times three people rushed inside and warned him to lock the door.
He was told that there was somebody with a machinegun opening fire on people, and said he believes the location of the shooting was a nearby dance club.
LA Times reporter Jeong Park said he didn't believe the shooting was connected to the Chinese New Year celebrations taking place in Monterey Park, and also pointed towards a nearby dance studio as the most likely location where the shooting took place.
Advert
He also said that he had spoken to Choi, who told him someone had fled from the scene of the shooting in a car.
Past instances of the Monterey Park Lunar New Year celebrations have attracted over 100,000 people to the city with a population of around 60,000.
This is the fifth mass shooting in the US this month, and the deadliest since the Uvalde school shooting where 21 people were killed.
Police are urging anyone with information on the deadly shooting to call LA Sheriff's Homicide on: 323 890 5500, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on: 800 222 8477.