Late Sunday morning, officials in Los Angeles County released a photo of the man suspected of murdering 10 people and injuring 10 more in Monterey Park, and Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed in a subsequent press conference that he believes the mass shooting and an incident immediately afterward in Alhambra are connected.
The man is described as between 30 and 50 years old, approximately 5’10” tall and weighing 150 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black leather jacket and a beanie.
In addition, Luna said that a then-ongoing barricade situation nearly 30 miles away in Torrance was believed to be connected. In the earlier press conference, Luna reported that the suspect in the Alhambra attempted shooting fled in a white cargo van and described it as “a van of interest.” Shortly thereafter police in Torrance boxed in a white cargo van found in a parking lot near the Del Amo Fashion Center, and SWAT teams and other tactical units surrounded it for more than an hour before moving in. Just prior to the time of publication the SWAT team moved in and officials said that activity at the scene was “over.”
Witnesses at the scene say that the driver was dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but the driver’s condition has not been confirmed by officials at this time.
Also, at the time of publication a second standoff situation was unfolding about five blocks from the original standoff with another white cargo van.
During the press conference, Luna refused to give additional information about the condition or location of the victims wounded in the shootout. He explained that after the first press conference, in which the names of hospitals victims were taken to was given, one hospital received a phone call from a person naming one of the victims and saying that they were going to “finish the job.”
Luna also said that officials have not determined how many perpetrators might be involved in the incidents.