A motive remains unclear for the attack in Southern California. Which killed 10 people and wounded 10 others who had gathered for a Lunar New Year festival.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. Seven of the 10 people who survived Saturday night’s mass shooting. At a dance hall in Monterey Park, California, remained hospitalized Sunday evening.
Authorities initially said some of the survivors were in critical condition.
“We thank the Monterey Park Fire Department for their life-saving measures.” Luna said at a news conference Sunday night. “I was told before I got here that we still have seven people, seven victims who are hospitalized. And I’m sure the work of our firefighters. And police officers contributed to saving at least those lives.”
A spokeswoman for Dignity Health Southern. California Division said its facilities in the area. Which includes California Hospital Medical Center in downtown Los Angeles. Have received two patients, one of whom has been discharged and the other is stable.
Authorities said a man opened fire at 10:22 p.m. Saturday. at the Star Ballroom Dance amid Lunar New Year celebrations. The suspect, Hu Can Tran, 72. Was the subject of a traffic stop late Sunday morning as he drove a white van to the town of Torrance. 28 miles away, they said.
When SWAT team members breached the car. He was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Luna said. His motive is not yet known, the sheriff said.
President Joe Biden on Sunday night ordered US flags to be flown. At half-staff at federal public buildings and military locations. In the wake of the weekend mass shooting in Southern California.
Biden’s order will remain in effect until sunset Thursday.
In an announcement, Biden said those. Killed and injured were victims of “economic violence.”
Ten people were killed and 10 others injured in a shooting at a dance hall in Monterey Park, California. On Saturday night. It happened in the San Gabriel Valley. Where more than half a million people of Asian heritage were celebrating Lunar. New Year.
MONTEREY PARK, Calif. — Concerned friends and family streamed into the Langley Senior Citizens Center. Throughout much of the day, anxiously waiting to hear news of loved ones. Who may have been among the 10 killed or injured in the Lunar New Year celebration.
“I tried to contact him, but I didn’t get a response,” Monterey Park resident Vivian King said of a friend. She last heard from over the weekend.
“That’s why I’m so worried,” Kind said. “We usually talk on WeChat, but I can’t reach him.”
Juan Pablo Pinzon, a tourist from Colombia, said his cousin was out with friends. In the area Saturday night and has not responded to texts and calls since.
“It’s hard not knowing what’s going on,” he said in Spanish. “Hopefully, we’ll hear something soon.”
Lenora Hall said she and her husband were relieved. When they confirmed their friend was not among the victims. The friend was a regular at Star Dance Studio but skipped the New Year celebrations.
“We’re so relieved,” Hall said, adding. That he was grateful for the emotional support Sunday at the senior center. “Talking about it was helpful – my husband and I still haven’t been able to process what happened last night.” President Joe Biden offered. The support of the federal government to the people of Monterey Park on Sunday.
The president said he directed the Department of Homeland. Security to provide federal help to state and local authorities. Who responded to the shooting and continue to investigate.
“I want to assure the community of Monterey Park and the greater region. That we will support you as best we can,” Biden said in a statement.
The President expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
“Jill and I are thinking of those killed and injured in last night’s. Deadly mass shooting in Monterey Park,” Biden said.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said the suspect in a fatal shooting. In a Monterey park Sunday afternoon has been identified.
Huu Can Tran, a 72-year-old man, died of a self-inflicted gunshot. Wound in a white van in Torrance as officers closed in, Luna said.
When law enforcement searched the van they recovered “several pieces of evidence.” That linked the suspect to the Monterey Park scene and a second scene in nearby Alhambra, Luna said. He said a pistol was also found in the van.
Two community members disarmed the suspect at a dance hall in the Alhambra, Luna said. He described the community members as heroes and said they saved lives.
He said the weapon recovered from the Alhambra dance hall. Was a “semi-automatic assault pistol.” With an extended large-capacity magazine attached.
Officers continue to investigate the motive.
A man described as “possibly” the suspect in the Monterey Park. Mass shooting was found dead Sunday inside a white cargo van in Torrance. Two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation said.
Many law enforcement agencies surrounded the vehicle for more. Than an hour before finally breaking out a window. An aerial feed from TTN Los Angeles showed law enforcement. Opening the van’s door and entering the vehicle minutes later.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said earlier Sunday that he could not confirm. Whether the man his agency was looking for was the gunman. The white van matched the description of a vehicle involved. In an incident in nearby Alhambra.
Patrons at a dance hall in neighboring Alhambra wrestled. A firearm from a man who walked in about 20 minutes. After the shooting in Monterey Park. Luna said he believed the two incidents were connected. But did not rule out any other possibilities. Dignity Health’s Southern California division received. Two men from Monterey Park who were shot, said Christina Zicklin, a spokeswoman.
The medical center did not share any other information. About the victims due to HIPAA privacy laws. SWAT agents and members of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s. Special Enforcement Bureau conducted. An operation in a white van in Torrance. About 30 miles southwest of Monterey Park, authorities said shortly after 1:30 p.m. PT Sunday. More than two hours after officers first surrounded the van.
“Neighborhood safe,” the Special Enforcement Bureau tweeted. Along with images of what appeared to be a local news helicopter. With sheriff’s vehicles and officers surrounding the white van and entering it.
Authorities said Sunday morning they were looking for a white van that fled the Alhambra. Where they believed an incident linked to the mass shooting took place. In which a gunman entered a dance hall and people there put away his firearm. The gunman fled.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told reporters Sunday. But did not confirm whether he was a suspect. Alhambra officials released a statement about the Monterey Park shooting Sunday evening.
“The City of Alhambra, the Alhambra Police Department. And the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce extend. Our support to the Monterey Park community in the wake of the tragic events. That occurred on the night of January 21st,” the statement read. “We send our thoughts and prayers to the victims.”
Officials have also acknowledged. That shootings have taken place in the city since the Monterey Park shooting.
“We also acknowledge those who stepped in to disarm the threat to our own community in Alhambra. As always, we extend our deepest gratitude to the first responders. Who rushed to help with this horrific event and will be there for our community. . . .”
“We feel the pain that many of our residents are feeling. And we will continue to work to support the entire community.” Stop AAPI Hate, which tracks and responds to violence, harassment. And discrimination against Asian Americans. And Pacific Islanders in the United States, said in a tweet. That the Monterey Park mass shooting was “devastating beyond words.”
“Our community has faced so much tragedy and trauma over the past several years. This horrific act of violence, on the most important day of the year for many Asian Americans. In a place where Asian American families come to gather and celebrate. Is sending shockwaves through our community,” the statement said.
Anti-Asian hate crimes increased by more than 330% from 2020 to 2021. And the Stop AAPI Hate report released last summer found that since March 2020. Around 11,500 anti-Asian incidents have occurred. With the majority constituting harassment and less than 20%. Physical abuse.
In March 2021, a gunman killed eight people — six of them Asian women — at an Atlanta-area spa. The gunman is serving four life sentences after pleading guilty to four murders.
Stop AAPI Hate calls for action to reduce gun violence and “prevent it from happening again.” According to TTN Los Angeles video, authorities broke a window. To gain access inside the white cargo van they surrounded in Torrance.
An aerial feed showed law enforcement officers opening. The van’s door and entering the vehicle.
A white van matching the description of a possible suspect’s. A heavy law enforcement presence surrounded the vehicle for over an hour.
