Investigators work at the scene of a mass shooting in Monterey Park, California, on January 22, 2023. - Ten people have died and at least 10 others have been wounded in a mass shooting in a largely Asian city in southern California, police said, with the suspect still at large hours later. (Photo by Robyn BECK / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
The suspected Monterey Park shooter killed himself during a standoff with police after killing ten people and injuring at least ten more at a dance studio over the weekend.
Huu Can Tran, 72, was found dead Sunday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in a van in Torrance, putting an end to an hours-long manhunt. Authorities have yet to determine a motive for the gunman, whose slayings have left the community in shock, according to ABC 7.
Tran had no criminal history, however local law enforcement aren’t ruling out the possibility that domestic violence may have played a part in Saturday’s mass shooting, the outlet reports.
Cops eventually tracked down the suspect’s van and surrounded it for several hours before going in, only to find a dead body slumped over the steering wheel upon entering.
At an evening news conference, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed the body found was that of Tran, the suspected shooter.
Officials added that Tran had attempted to shoot up another dance hall in Alhambra, roughly 17 minutes after the deadly mass shooting at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio on West Garvey Avenue.
After reportedly walking into the Alhambra ballroom with his firearm raised, a heroic Good Samaritan managed to wrestle the gun away from Tran, according to Luna.
CCTV footage shows as a man inside the Lai Lai Ballroom confronts the suspect before disarming him, prompting Tran to quickly flee the scene.
However, authorities say they know very little information about the man, or why he targeted community dance halls, the outlet reports.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna did reveal that all of the people killed appeared to be over 50. Luna speculated what could have been a potential motive, questioning if Tran had a mental illness.
“I still have questions in my mind, which is: What was the motive for this shooter? Did he have a mental illness? Was he a domestic violence abuser? How did he get these guns and was it through legal means or not?” Congresswoman Judy Chu said.
Tran reportedly had a semi-automatic pistol along with an extended magazine – which is illegal in California – and another handgun found in the van where his body was located.
Monterey Park Police Chief Scott Wiese said that although the officers “hadn’t been prepared for (the mass shooting),” but didn’t hesitate to go in regardless.
Meanwhile, no victims have been officially identified as of Monday, however friends identified one of the people killed as dance instructor Ming Wei Ma.
Saturday’s mass shooting was the nation’s fifth to occur this month alone. It’s also the deadliest attack since May 24, 2022, when 21 people were killed in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
All families and victims impacted by the shooting are urged to go to the Langley Senior Center at 400 W. Emerson Avenue, where there is a crisis response team.
