Schools across Monterey Park will provide counselling services to distraught children, according to the Los Angeles Daily News, external.

Monterey Park has four school districts - and two of them say police will beef up security and mental health services would be provided.

Monday is a designated staff development day for the Alhambra Unified School District, but its Superintendent Denise Jaramillo said that they are “standing ready to help our community with grief and support”.

Jaramillo also said that parents should address the tragedy with their children in an age-appropriate manner, the US outlet said. Young children should be reassured of their safety and spared details, but it is important to discuss gun violence with older teenagers.

Members of the Monterey Park community have set up a memorial and held a vigil for the victims of the shooting.

Dozens were seen praying for the deceased, and some laid flowers and heart balloons near City Hall.

"There’s no exact word to say," a clergyman said.

It was a visibly emotional scene as some spoke and said prayers, while others watched in tears.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Re

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

The US does not have a single definition for "mass shootings", but The Gun Violence Archive, external - a non-profit research group - defines one as an attack injuring at least four people, excluding any shooters.

This is the 33rd mass shooting in the US this year, they say.

It is also the fifth gun mass murder - a single incident that kills at least four - and the deadliest so far this year.

A few hours ago, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna told a press briefing that "gun violence needs to stop".

As a "mark of respect" for the victims, flags on government buildings will be lowered to half-mast until sunset on Thursday, President Biden has announced.

In a statement earlier on Sunday, he said he was thinking of and praying for those killed and injured.

Image source, Reuters

In the wake of the attack, police in Houston, Texas, say they are stepping up security at venues in the city celebrating Lunar New Year.

Police have not revealed a motive for the shooting, but a witness has told CBS , externalthe gunman came to the Monterey Park dance studio to find his wife.

She told the outlet - which is the BBC's media partner in the US - that he opened fire on the ballroom without saying anything.

"He found his wife there," the witness, who wanted to remain anonymous, said.

"He started to shooting everybody... when they dance."

The witness could not confirm that the gunman was the same man authorities had distributed a photo of, but said his clothes seemed similar.

President Joe Biden said full federal support would be mobilised to investigate the Monterey Park shooting as the nation continues “searching for answers”. In a statement, he noted that the Asian-American and Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders community was hit hard by the shooting as many celebrated the Lunar New Year, which fell on 22 January.

Monterey Park has a population of about 60,000 with 65% of them being Asians.

“While there is still much we don’t know about the motive in this senseless attack, we do know that many families are grieving tonight, or praying that their loved one will recover from their wounds,” he said, adding that the people killed and injured in the attack are in his and his wife Jill’s thoughts.

• Police have identified the suspected gunman as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, and confirmed he shot and killed himself inside a white van officers had surrounded earlier on Sunday
• There are no other suspects, police say

• Detectives are yet to determine a motive for the attack, but are probing Tran's mental and criminal history
• It's not yet clear how many guns were used in the shooting, but police have seized a semi-automatic pistol and a handgun. One of the weapons located may not be legal to own in California, but more investigation is needed, police say
• Seven of the 10 people who were injured in the shooting are still in hospital. Police earlier confirmed 10 people died, but say they believe Tran intended to kill more
• The age of the victims is still being confirmed, but most appear to be aged over 50
• Sheriff Luna called for a conversation about gun control in the wake of the shooting. California has some of the "strictest" laws in the country, but "the status quo's not working", he said

Image source, Reuters

Many questions remain unanswered, with Sheriff Luna saying it will take days to get a clearer idea of what happened, and possibly why.

Back at the podium again, Police Chief Scott Wiese shared that the youngest officers who attended the scene of the shooting had only been out on their own for a few months.

He said their motto is "we don't wait", however, so they entered the scene and did their jobs by hunting for a gunman.

He describes what they witnessed at the shooting site as a scene of carnage.

Detectives are looking into the suspect's mental and criminal history, to determine motive and if there was anything officials had "missed", Sheriff Luna said.

"Those are all things detectives will take a very hard look at," he said.

Sheriff Luna adds that he believes the gunman had probably intended to kill more people, as after the shooting he went to a second dance hall in Alhambra, where "brave" community members disarmed him. The suspect then ran away.

Asked if there were multiple guns used, the sheriff replies, "We don't know yet." He added that one of the guns that was found may not be legal to own in California - however more investigation is needed, he said.

He adds that police are unable to give much information on what happened when the suspect shot himself because they are still interviewing witnesses, and it will take some days to piece together what happened.

On the issue of gun control, Sheriff Luna says "California has some of the strictest gun laws in the country... let's look across our nation and see what works and what doesn’t".

"I can tell you this - the status quo's not working," he tells reporters.

LA County Sheriff Robert Luna says he does not have the ages of the victims, but said they "are not in their 20s and 30s, and seem to be in their 50s, 60s and maybe some even beyond".

Image source, Reuters

The white van had number plates that police "assume" were stolen, Sheriff Luna said.

Monterey Park Police Department Chief Scott Wiese has just said that the officers who were here last night are just coming back on duty now.

He says when he finishes talking he will go back upstairs and make sure his officers are in a good place tonight.

"The only way they're going to protect this community is if they're mentally prepared to do so."

Monterey Park Mayor Henry Lo tells the press conference: "Our priority is to make sure those victims and their family victims are given the assistance they need to heal."

He says the community will need to heal too - "but I have faith we will be able to."

State Senator Susan Rubio has just spoken, saying teachers will also have to deal with this, and that local children will be scared and unsettled.

She urges people to support teachers as they try to help children through this time.

She promises to provide all the resources to help the community know they will be taken care of.