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– A hero emerged, some victims’ names were released, and this close-knit, predominantly Asian American city was in mourning as the death toll from an elderly man’s shooting rampage rose to 11 on Monday.
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services said Monday that one of the four people from the Monterey Park shooting being treated at the LA County-USC Medical Center has died of gunshot wounds. A department’s news release said another of the wounded patients was in serious condition and the other two were recovering.
Authorities said the initial death count from Saturday night’s attack at a dance studio was 10, and at least 10 were injured. Most of the victims were age 60 or older.
Relatives say the gunman, Huu Can Tran, 72, had once given free lessons at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, where the killings took place hours after Lunar New Year celebrations. Tran was found dead Sunday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a white cargo van.
Brandon Tsay, a part-time helper at another dance hall in nearby Alhambra, wrestled the gun from Tran minutes after the first attack and is credited with saving many lives.
Authorities continued searching for clues about Tran’s motive, which remained unclear. “We all want answers to questions that we may never have answers to,” Monterey Park Police Chief Scott Wiese said. “That’s kind of the enigma of this.”
SHOOTING TIMELINE:How the deadly attack at a Monterey Park dance studio unfolded
‘COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE’: Monterey Park gunman disarmed by ‘heroes’ at second dance studio, sheriff saysGunman had bounty of ammunition, silencer equipment at home, police say
Authorities shared more information Monday afternoon about what their investigation has found, including details about Tran that indicate he had a fondness for firearms and could have been preparing other attacks.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said a search of Tran’s home revealed he had a rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and equipment to manufacture homemade silencers.
Tran was arrested in 1990 for unlawful possession of a firearm, Luna said, but the handgun discovered in the van where Tran was found dead was registered to him.
He used a different weapon, described by Luna as a “magazine-fed semi-automatic assault pistol,’’ at the Monterey Park dance hall where 11 people were killed. Luna said Tran shot 42 rounds there, using a large-capacity magazine attached to the gun.
As police continue to search for a motive, Luna said he could not verify reports that Tran acted out of jealousy. He also said one of the victims was killed in a car outside the dance hall, likely before the rampage.
Police initially said two patrons thwarted Tran’s attempt at further mayhem at a second dance studio in nearby Alhambra, but Luna clarified it was only one man, venue employee Brandon Tsay, who disarmed the intruder.
“What a brave man he is,’’ Luna said.Names of four victims released
Four victims have been identified by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, which said it was waiting until relatives of the others could be notified before releasing more names. My Nhan, 65, Lilan Li, 63, and Xiujuan Yu, 57, were among the five women killed. The two other women were in their 60s.
Alvaro Valentino, 68, is the only man among the five killed who has been identified. Of the other four, three were in their 70s and one in his 60s, the coroner’s office said.
Authorities released no information on what if any connection the victims had with their killer. A vigil for all the victims was set for Monday night.What happened in the Monterey Park shooting?
The shooting took place at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, 9 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
