72-year-old gunman killed 10 people and committed suicide in California
2023.01.23 02:39
72-year-old gunman killed 10 people and committed suicide in California
By Kristina Sobol
Budrigannews.com – On Sunday, approximately 12 hours after carrying out a Lunar New Year massacre at a dance club that resulted in the deaths of 10 people and the injuries of another 10, the 72-year-old gunman committed suicide when he was approached by police.
Authorities say that two bystanders wrestled the gunman’s weapon away from him before any shots could be fired at a separate club minutes after the first shooting on Saturday night. He ran from the scene.
The suspect, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, is Huu Can Tran, a septuagenarian who, according to him, used a high-capacity magazine pistol to shoot up a ballroom dance venue in Monterey Park, which is about 7 miles (11 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles and is popular with older patrons.
Despite the fact that gun violence is prevalent in the United States, investigators did not yet have a motive. Although Luna stated that the five men and five women appeared to be in their 50s, 60s, or beyond, she did not identify any of the victims. The sheriff said that the gun Tran was using appeared to be illegal in California, where any magazine that holds more than ten rounds is illegal.
Luna stated to reporters, “We want to know, we want to know how something this awful can happen.”
Luna claimed that Tran was confronted by bystanders at a second dance club in the neighboring city of Alhambra about 20 minutes later, after police asserted that he carried out the shooting in Monterey Park around 10 p.m. PST (600 GMT on Sunday).
According to Luna, “I can tell you that the suspect walked in there, probably with the intent to kill more people, and two brave community members decided they were going to jump into action and disarm him.”
According to the sheriff, Tran turned a handgun on himself on Sunday as Torrance police approached a white van he was driving, about 20 miles (34 kilometers) from the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park where the shooting occurred. As they got closer, the officers heard a single gunshot from the van, so they turned around and called a SWAT team.
Seven of the 10 injured people were still in the hospital Sunday night, with at least one in critical condition.
The shooting occurred near the site of a two-day celebration of Chinese Lunar New Year. During this time, many downtown streets are closed for the festivities, which attract thousands of people from all over Southern California.
On Sunday, residents of Monterey Park stood and stared at the numerous blocks that had been sealed off with police tape. The city of approximately 60,000 people, according to Chester Chong, chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles, is a tranquil, beautiful place where everyone knows and helps each other.
Immigrants from China have made the city their destination for decades. According to data from the U.S. Census, approximately 65% of its residents are Asian, and the city is well-known for its numerous Chinese restaurants and grocery stores.
Chong stated at the scene, “People were calling me last night, they were scared this was a hate crime.”
Since its opening in 1990, the Star Ballroom Dance Studio’s website features numerous photos of previous Lunar New Year celebrations, in which customers are smiling and dancing in party attire in the studio’s large, brightly lit ballroom.
According to a teacher at the studio who requested anonymity, the majority of its customers are middle-aged or elderly, but children also attend youth dance classes.
The instructor stated, “Those are normal working people.” Some are retired and just want to exercise or meet new people.
The new year’s party on Saturday night, which ran from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, was advertised in a flyer that was posted on the website.
Tiffany Chiu, 30, who was having a party at her parents’ house close to the ballroom, said that some people thought the gunshots were new year’s eve fireworks.
She stated, “A lot of older people live here, and it’s usually very quiet.” You shouldn’t expect this here.”
In a written statement, President Joe Biden said that he had told his Homeland Security adviser to help local authorities with federal support.
Since May 2022, when a gunman shot and killed 19 students and two teachers at a school in Uvalde, Texas, the attack in Monterey Park was the deadliest. In 1984, a gunman opened fire on a McDonald’s and killed 21 people, making it the deadliest shooting in California history (NYSE:). restaurant near San Diego in San Ysidro.
