Eleven people were killed and nine others were injured by a gunman who opened fire at a crowded dance studio in Monterey Park, California, on Saturday night, authorities said.
The suspect -- identified as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran -- fled the scene and traveled to nearby Alhambra, where he allegedly entered a second dance hall, where he was disarmed. Tran was found dead on Sunday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a van in Torrance, about 30 miles southwest of Monterey Park, according to police.
Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Jan 23, 2023, 2:53 PM EST
11th victim dies
One of the victims hospitalized after the Monterey Park mass shooting has died, bringing the death toll to 11, hospital officials said Monday.
The LAC+USC Medical Center said it still has three patients from the shooting: one in serious condition and two who are "are recovering."
Jan 23, 2023, 1:15 PM EST
Suspect ‘distrusted everyone,’ acquaintance says
The mass shooting suspect, 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, filed for divorce from his then-wife in 2005, according to court filings. The judge approved the divorce in 2006.
It appears he worked as a professional trucker for at least 20 years. He was the chief executive officer of a San Gabriel-based business called Tran’s Trucking Inc., established in 2002 and dissolved in 2004, according to incorporation filings.
Tran was found dead on Sunday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a van in Torrance, about 30 miles southwest of Monterey Park, according to police. No motive for the massacre has been determined. According to law enforcement sources, Tran had no known criminal history.
Tran’s former tenant and longtime acquaintance who wished to remain unnamed told ABC News that the suspect was a regular at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, where the massacre unfolded, and Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio, where Tran entered with a gun later that night and was disarmed by a good Samaritan.
He told ABC News that Tran liked to dance but that he didn’t have many friends at either of the dance studios.
He said Tran “distrusted everyone."
He added, “I wouldn't say he was aggressive, but he just couldn't get along well with people.”
He said Tran spent his nights mainly alone, but would offer women free lessons in the dance studio. He said that upset the owner and staff instructors, who made their living on paid lessons.
“I think there was tension between Tran and those instructors,” he said.
In 2015, the former tenant filed a small claims case against Tran, claiming Tran owed $750 to him, court records show. He explained that he filed the lawsuit because Tran had refused to pay him his security deposit. He told ABC News that he did not serve Tran in the suit, but he did serve his co-owner of the property, Janine Liu. ABC News reached out to Liu but has not heard back.
*-*ABC News’ Soorin Kim, AliDukakis, Olivia Ruben, Alexandra Myers, Laura Romero and Gerry Wagschal
Jan 23, 2023, 12:44 PM EST
Devastated family of 65-year-old victim speaks out
Mymy Nhan, a 65-year-old woman killed in the Monterey Park dance studio mass shooting, "spent so many years" going there to dance on weekends, her family said.
"It’s what she loved to do," the family said.
"We are starting the Lunar New Year broken. We never imagined her life would end so suddenly," her family said. "Her warm smile and kindness was contagious. She was a loving aunt, sister, daughter and friend. Mymy was our biggest cheerleader."
Jan 23, 2023, 11:46 AM EST
Rep. Chu's message to community: Go to Lunar New Year celebrations
Rep. Judy Chu, a Democratic congresswoman who represents Monterey Park, told “GMA3” that she wants to know the gunman’s motive for Saturday night’s massacre that claimed 10 lives.
“For him to do this right after we had our opening celebration of Lunar New Year was just horrific. There were thousands of people that were only one block away celebrating this very, very important holiday,” she said. “It was a joyous time that immediately turned to tragedy."
Chu said the community is “beginning the healing process.”
“It’s been a horrific 24 hours. People were so fearful and anxious about an active shooter being out there in the community,” she said.
The suspect was found dead on Sunday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a van in Torrance, about 30 miles southwest of Monterey Park, according to police.
“My message to the community is: you are safe,” Chu said. “And it's so important for people to heal and to go to the Lunar New Year celebrations that they have been looking forward to all year long.”
Chu added, “The feelings of Asian Americans are very raw right now because we've just come from three years of anti-Asian hate due to COVID.”
“In fact, the reason that everybody was so enthusiastic about this Lunar New Year is that it was on hiatus for three years due to COVID. This was the first time it was being done in three years where everybody was together and in person,” she said. “So it should have been a wonderful time for our community.”