Joe and Jill Biden pay tribute to the ten victims of Chinese Lunar New Year dance studio massacre

The president and first lady shared their condolences for the victims of the Saturday night Lunar New Year mass shooting in that left 10 dead and another 10 injured at a California dance studio.

Joe Biden tweeted he and his wife Jill were ‘praying for those killed and injured’ in the mass shooting, and noted he was closely monitoring the unfolding situation as cops continue searching for the shooter.

Shortly on the heels of Biden’s statement, Vice President Kamala Harris took to twitter Sunday afternoon to speak out against the ‘senseless act of gun violence,’ noting that she and her husband Doug were praying for the victims.

The shooter unloaded a gun inside the Lai Lai Ballroom, about an hour after a nearby Chinese Lunar New Year celebration. It is not believed the weapon involved was an assault-style weapon as was previously reported.

President Biden advised local residents to follow the direction of law enforcement as the search continues for the shooter. 

‘Jill and I are praying for those killed and injured in last night’s deadly mass shooting in Monterey Park,’ he wrote. 

‘I’m monitoring this situation closely as it develops, and urge the community to follow guidance from local officials and law enforcement in the hours ahead.’ 

Vice President Harris wrote that she and the president were supporting the local authorities as the investigation continued.

‘Overnight, yet another community was torn apart by a senseless act of gun violence,’ she wrote. ‘To the Monterey Park families impacted: Doug and I mourn with you—and pray for you.’

‘@POTUS and I will continue to provide full support to local authorities as we learn more.’

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both spoke out in support of the massacre victims on Sunday

Sunday Lunar New Year celebrations around the area of the mass shooting were canceled

The update arrived as a desperate manhunt remains underway by law enforcement in the Los Angeles area. The suspect has been described as an asian male.

Horrifying pictures showed victims being stretched from the scene before being rushed to hospital as cops and ambulances swarmed the area.

Cops said throngs of terrified festivalgoers streamed out of the area ‘screaming’ as bullets continued to fly.

Monterey Park has canceled the Lunar New Year events that were scheduled to take place Sunday near and around the dance hall.

Dozens of cops and firefighters swarmed the scene but the gunman remained on the loose as of Sunday morning

Firefighters were spotted treating the wounded in the parking lot outside the dance studio on Saturday night

Interior of the Star Ballroom in Monterey Park, California where the shooting took place Saturday night 

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said that the 10 victims who were injured but not pronounced dead at the scene, were left in stable to critical condition.

Luna said that members of his force are searching fervently for the suspect: ‘I see it in their eyes. They want to go get this guy, and they’re going to.’

He added that it remains unclear if the massacre at the ballroom was connected with a second shooting that occurred two miles down the road in the minutes after the first shooting.

Scott Wiese, the Monterey Park Police Chief said that, while it is now safe to attend Lunar New Year celebrations in other parts of the community, the investigation that was launched today is large and ‘will go on for many days and perhaps many months.’

Wiese said law enforcement is looking for information from the community and hope members will work closely with law enforcement as the search continues.