A woman holds a candle and a flower during a vigil outside Monterey Park City Hall, blocks from the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, late Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Monterey Park, Calif. A gunman killed multiple people at the ballroom dance studio late Saturday amid Lunar New Year's celebrations in the predominantly Asian American community. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Residents in Monterey Park, California are remembering those who lost their lives in the mass shooting last Saturday. Star Ballroom Dance Studio manager Ming Wei Ma was one among the victims, affectionately known as Mr. Ma. Kristina Hayes hosts events at Star Ballroom and says Mr. Ma was a great dance teacher who used to dance competitively. Many people in the community knew him and other people attending the studio. Eleven were killed when a 72-year-old man opened fire there following a night of Lunar New Year festivities in the community east of Los Angeles. The victims — ranging in age from 57 to 76 — were identified by the coroner’s office on Tuesday. While the exact motive remains elusive, law enforcement officials say the evidence gathered so far suggests a personal motive rather than terrorism or a hate crime.