Asian Americans in the Hudson Valley are grieving following the California mass shooting that claimed 11 lives on the Lunar New Year.

The gunman is dead, but authorities continue to search for a motive.

The deadly shooting happened on Saturday at a Chinese-owned dance studio in Monterey Park. William Kaung is with the Westchester and Hudson Valley Chapter of OCA, an Asian Pacific Islander American advocacy group.

He says the shooting is especially tragic because it happened on a day of celebration.

"We are going into the new lunar calendar, the Year of the Rabbit. Obviously, the rabbit is supposed to be a very peaceful calm year," he says. 

The gunman, now identified as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after an hourslong manhunt.

Authorities have not ruled out a hate crime as a possible motive for the mass shooting that killed 11.

"Too many of these incidents have been happening across the country. Especially in the New York City area," says Kaung. Hate crimes against Asian Americans are on the rise.

There have been two in Westchester in recent years.

In November, a Yonkers man was sentenced to 17 ½ years in prison for a violent attack against a 67-year-old Asian woman.

Kaung says OCA has worked with many local groups and police departments to dispel hate crimes.

"All these different groups should have continued conversations against hate," he says. 

Kaungis also advocating for more restrictions on who can purchase guns.

"The country needs to do something about having people that are not supposed to have weapons, guns. How did they get their hands on it?" he asks.

News 12 saw extra security at many Lunar New Year events across the country.

There are two coming up next month here in Westchester County, but there is no word yet on whether there will be stepped-up security.