Community members and leaders react to mass shootings impacting Asian communities

CARPINTERIA, Calif. – Flags are flying at half staff outside Carpinteria City Hall and along Linden Ave.

City staff opened the council meaning reminding people that they reflect a period of mourning in the wake of the Monterey Park shootings that left 11 people dead and others wounded.

Former Carpinteria Mayor and current city councilman Wade Nomura has family in Monterey Park where the shootings occurred Saturday night on the eve of the Lunar New Year.

Nomura checked in with family on Saturday night and said they were not at the dance halls where the violence occurred.

Nomura, who is of Japanese decent, hopes people will take a moment to think about the lives lost and the people hurting.

The 72-year-old gunman who investigators said took his own life had a Chinese surname.

Council member Roy Lee, whose family owns Uncle Chen's restaurant in Carpinteria wants people to know what happened could happen anywhere.

The council meeting began before news of another shooting Monday that left 7 farm workers dead at two locations in Half Moon Bay.

Officers arrested a 67-year-old suspect with a Chinese surname who appeared to be turning himself into deputies at a news conference.

Wayne Lauritsen and his wife were dropping off a Chinese New Year gift of cake to Uncle Chen's restaurant when they learned of the Half Moon Bay violence.

He considers it "copy cat" crime.

Lauritsen said they had visited Monterey Park to celebrate the New Year hours before the Saturday night's shooting and now this.

They recall a lot of traffic in the area and were glad to get home safe.

Now flags at half staff in Carpinteria and around the nation reflect two mass shootings in less than three days.

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