California Lunar New Year massacre suspect commits suicide

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Jan 08:45

Huu Can Tran was identified as the suspect by Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

Police officers stand outside a ballroom dance club in Monterey Park, Calif., on Jan. 22, 2023. (AP)

On Sunday, a 72-year-old gunman committed suicide when confronted by authorities, approximately 12 hours after carrying out a Lunar New Year massacre at a dance club that killed ten people and injured ten more.

The gunman attempted another attack at a different club just minutes after the first one on Saturday night, but two onlookers took the man's firearm away from him before any rounds could be fired, according to the investigator, after which he fled the scene.

Huu Can Tran, a septuagenarian who used a high-capacity magazine revolver to shoot up a ballroom dance establishment popular with senior clientele in Monterey Park, about 7 miles (11 km) east of downtown Los Angeles, was identified as the suspect by Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

Although gun violence is common in the United States, investigators did not know what motivated the shooting. Luna did not identify the victims but claimed the five men and five women were in their 50s, 60s, and older. According to the sheriff, Tran's pistol seemed to be unlawful in California, where state rules prohibit any magazine carrying more than 10 bullets.

"We want to know, we want to know how something this awful can happen," Luna told journalists.

Tran was challenged by bystanders at a second dance club in the neighboring city of Alhambra about 20 minutes after the shooting in Monterey Park at approximately 10 pm PST Saturday (0600 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," Luna said.

According to the sheriff, Tran pulled a firearm on himself as officers approached a white van he was driving near Torrance, roughly 20 miles (34 kilometers) from the shooting at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park. Officers approached the van and heard a single gunshot, then fell back and requested a SWAT unit.

Seven of the ten injured people remained hospitalized Sunday night, with at least one in critical condition.

The shooting took place near the site of a two-day Chinese Lunar New Year event, during which several downtown streets are closed and thousands of people from over Southern California attend.