Death toll in Monterey Park Lunar New Year filming now at 11; 4 victims identified

UPDATE January 23, 2023:

The death toll in the Monterey Park Lunar New Year shooting is now 11 after a 70-year-old victim died of his injuries in hospital, reports the Washington Post.

Additionally, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office reportedly identified two other victims, Xiujuan Yu, 57, and Alvero Valentino, 68.

All of the deceased victims were in their 50s, 60s and 60s, according to The Washington Post.

The suspect’s motive remains unclear, but a former housemate told The Washington Post that he was a regular at Star Ballroom Dance Studio and Lai Lai Ballroom & Studio, and dancing was one of his only hobbies.

FOLLOWING:

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (TCD) — Two victims have been identified in the deadly Lunar New Year shooting at a dance hall over the weekend.

On Saturday, January 21, around 10:22 p.m., the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Monterey Park police officers responded to the 100 block of West Garvey Avenue to a report of gunshots. Ten victims were reported dead at the scene and at least 10 others were injured.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office identified two of the deceased victims as My Nhan, 65, and Lilian Li, 64. KTLA-TV reports.

In a Twitter post and tribute, Nhan’s niece, Tiffany Liou, said: “She spent so many years going to the dance studio in Monterey Park on weekends. That’s what she liked to do. But unfairly, Saturday was his last dance. »

After the shooting, an hours-long manhunt ensued for the suspect, 72-year-old Hemet resident Huu Can Tran, the Los Angeles Times reports. About 20 minutes after the initial shooting, Tran reportedly entered the Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio at Alhambra. Sheriff Robert Luna said Tran entered “possibly with the intent to kill two other people”, but was successfully disarmed by two members of the community.

Tran reportedly fled the scene afterwards.

On Sunday, Jan. 22, at around 10:20 a.m., officers located the suspect in a van in a mall parking lot in Torrance and heard a gunshot from inside, according to the Los Angeles Times. Around 1 p.m., a SWAT team reportedly determined that Tran had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and he was pronounced deceased.

Authorities reportedly found a handgun and evidence linking Tran to the two shooting locations inside the van.

According to KTLA, a search warrant was also served at Tran’s mobile home in Hemet, about 85 miles from Monterey Park.

Luna told the Los Angeles Times, “We are still unclear on the motive. »

Prior to the shooting, Tran reportedly went to Hemet police station and said his family was trying to poison him.

Monterey Park is said to be a predominantly Asian community outside of Los Angeles, and the Lunar New Year celebration there is one of the biggest Lunar New Year events in Southern California. According to KTLA, after the shooting, authorities canceled Lunar New Year events scheduled for Sunday in the area.

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