Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna identified the man as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran and said no other suspects were at large. The suspect walked into the other facility “probably with the intent to kill more people, ” the sheriff added.
About 20 to 30 minutes after the first attack, the gunman entered the dance studio Lai Lai Ballroom in nearby Alhambra. But two community members, who Luna referred to as “heroes,” wrested the gun away from him before he fled, according to Luna.
Speaking at an evening news conference, he added that the motive remained unclear for the attack, which killed 10 and wounded 10 more. Luna did not have the exact ages of the victims but said they all appeared to be over 50. Seven of the wounded people remained in the hospital, he said.
The sheriff added that the suspect was carrying what he described as a semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine, and a second handgun was discovered in the van where Tran was found dead. The shooting late Saturday in the predominantly Asian American community of Monterey Park cast a shadow over the New Years festivities and sent a wave of fear through Asian American communities in the Los Angeles area.
The suspect walked into the other facility “probably with the intent to kill more people, ” the sheriff added.
Other cities sent extra officers to watch over the celebrations. Also speaking at the news conference, Congresswoman Judy Chu said she still has questions about the attack but hopes residents now feel safe.
“The community was in fear thinking that they should not go to any events because there was an active shooter,” Chu said, adding, “You are no longer in danger.” “What was the motive for this shooter?” she said. “Did he have a mental illness? Was he a domestic violence abuser? How did he gets these guns and was it through legal means or not?”
California Governor Gavin Newsom visited Monterey Park on Sunday evening and tweeted: “The strength of this community is incredible. No other country in the world is terrorized by this constant stream of gun violence. We need real gun reform at a national level.”
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