Huu Can Tran LA County shooting: What we know about the Lunar New Year massacre
Jack Birle
Video Embed
A shooting during Lunar New Year celebrations in Monterey Park, California, Saturday evening killed 10 people.
The mass shooting also left 10 people injured and has left many with more questions than answers. Here is what we know about the Lunar New Year shooting.
LA COUNTY SHOOTING: SUSPECTED GUNMAN WHO FATALLY SHOT HIMSELF IN VAN IDENTIFIED
What happened?
The shooting began at approximately 10:22 p.m. local time Saturday when the gunman opened fire at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio. The incident took place during a Lunar New Year celebration at the dance studio. The gunman allegedly traveled to a second dance studio but was disarmed before he could attack by the operator of the dance hall, per the New York Times. The gunman then fled and was at large for several hours.
Who was the suspected gunman?
Huu Can Tran, 72, is the man who police believe opened fire in the Star Ballroom Dance Studio Saturday night. Little is known about Tran other than that he allegedly frequented the dance studio in the 2000s and early-2010s and was an immigrant from China, per CNN.
Who were the victims?
The 10 deceased victims of the shooting were split between five men and five women, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Sunday. The dead are believed to have been around the age range of the 50s to 60s rather than 20s to 30s.
Of the 10 people who were hospitalized with injuries from the shooting, seven are in the hospital Monday morning, per CBS News.
Was the suspect caught by the police?
Tran was found by authorities dead behind the wheel of a white van in Torrance, California, Sunday, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police. The manhunt Sunday featured a tense standoff with SWAT teams blocking the van and police closing off the area surrounding the vehicle for several hours. Police said a handgun was among the items found in the van.
What was the motive of the gunman?
The motive of the gunman is currently unknown, as police continue the investigation into the mass shooting Monday morning.
What is being done in the aftermath of the shooting?
The dance studio where the shooting occurred announced in a Facebook post on Sunday night local time that classes would be canceled and the studio would be closed “until further notice.”
President Joe Biden has ordered all flags nationwide to be lowered to half-staff until Thursday evening. He also offered federal support to the recovery from the shooting and said the federal government “will support” the community in every way possible.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) visited the site of the shooting Sunday, calling for “real gun reform.” It is currently unknown if Biden plans to visit California to visit with victims and see the scene of the shooting.