Chapman community remembers the victims from Monterey Park shooting

Chapman University held a vigil in remembrance of the lives lost during the mass shooting in Monterey Park on Jan. 21. Photos by SIMRAH AHMAD, staff photographer

Following a Lunar New Year celebration in Monterey Park, California on Jan. 21, a gunman arrived at Star Dance Studio, a nearby ballroom dance studio, and opened fire.

In total, 11 people were killed, and many more were seriously injured.

The man then traveled a few miles from Monterey Park to a different studio in Alhambra but was stopped because he was tackled by a man named Brandon Tsay. Tsay was noted for his bravery and courage in preventing another shooting by the same suspect and received a medal of honor from city leaders.

The suspect was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound a day later. The suspect had been 72 years old, making this an unusual case since most mass shooters are considerably younger.

At the vigil, students were able to write notes to remember those who were either killed or injured at the Monterey Park shooting last month.

In 2021, out of 61 mass shootings, only six shooters were 55 years or older. Since the beginning of 2023, there have been a total of 39 mass shootings in the U.S.

As a result of the Monterey tragedy, many people in the community have come together to support each other during this time.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis held a news conference Jan. 23 detailing the healing that Monterey Park would be going through.

"The community has come together, and many people are coming forward to provide initial support to many of our AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) residents,” Solis stated at the conference. “We know we have a lot of healing to do." 

Chapman sent out a campus-wide email Jan. 23 detailing the events of the shooting and giving students and faculty the option to go to the Wallace All Faiths Chapel, where members of the community could light a candle and write heartfelt messages.

In addition, a vigil was held on campus Feb. 2 to remember the victims of the Monterey Park shooting and the others affected by recent shootings in the nation.

At this event, students and members of the community had the chance to remember and reflect on the lives that were lost.

Reverend Nancy Brink was the lead organizer and main speaker at the event.

“As I have listened to the stories of survivors of Monterey Park in recent days, I understand their terror and their uncertainty that they will ever again be able to return to the dancing that they love,” Brink said at the vigil. “As I listened to them speak, I was moved to silent prayer for each one — that there will come a time when enough healing has come that more and more people will be able to put on their dancing shoes again and enter the dance floor.”

Brink emphasized that even though the shooting brought great darkness, it has also brought many groups of people together.

“One thing I know with all my being — we are strengthened in community,” Brink said at the event. “Today we show up for each other, because in lending our strength to another, we are also strengthened, and in lending our courage to another, we begin to find our own courage.”