A day after three men were killed and nine other people were wounded during a mass shooting at a house party, members of the Long Beach community gathered for a vigil at Saint Matthew’s Roman Catholic.
People assembled with lit candles surrounding the church’s steps, where 12 candles were arranged for the victims, three of those candles for the victims who were killed and nine other for those were injured.
Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce addressed the mourners and spoke of the frustrations that her and other members of the city feel in situations like these.
“There are not many words that anybody that’s going to get up on the stage can say to make what happened okay,” Pearce said.
Living and working in Long Beach his whole life, Vice Mayor Dee Andrews also spoke at the vigil.
“Long Beach is a great city and at times like these, community is all that matters,” Andrews told the Vikings.
“I can only hope and pray that those wounded have a quick recovery.”
Police believe the shooting was a targeted attack but there is still no clear motive.
According to Police Chief Robert Luna, the suspect entered through an ally behind the home and indiscriminately fired into the crowd of 25 to 30 people.
Luna called the crime scene “horrific” and adding that there was “blood everywhere.”
Sithean San, chair of Cambodia Town Inc., visited the family earlier and said the family that hosted the party feel terrible and was in shock about the events that occurred.
“We came to this country saying, ‘This is a safe place.” Not anymore,” San said.