Monterey Park, police search for motive after mass shooting

The gunman within the deadly shooting at a dance hall in Monterey Park that left 10 individuals useless and a minimum of 10 others injured as they celebrated the Lunar New 12 months could have been concentrating on his ex-wife and should have had a “historical past of home violence,” the town’s mayor stated Monday.

Talking with NBC Information’ Kate Snow, Monterey Park Mayor Henry Lo stated he believed the ex-wife had been on the Star Ballroom Dance Studio when the shooter, recognized by authorities as Huu Can Tran, opened hearth on the dance corridor.

He stated there seemed to be a “historical past of home violence” and that it was attainable the suspect had been concentrating on his ex-wife, however didn’t develop additional.

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Investigators have been probing the background of the suspect after the mass capturing on the Star Ballroom Dance Studio rocked the majority-Asian group because it gathered to have a good time the Lunar New 12 months on Saturday.

Tran, 72, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after being stopped by authorities following a manhunt, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated Sunday.

“The unimaginable occurred in our group final night,” Monterey Park Mayor Henry Lo stated in an announcement Sunday, calling the lethal capturing a “horrible tragedy.”

“We perceive our group is on the lookout for solutions,” he stated, promising to replace residents because the investigation continues.

Sources acquainted with the investigation stated an individual in a white van subjected to a site visitors cease within the coastal metropolis of Torrance, about 30 miles from the crime scene, had match the outline of an individual seen at crime scenes in each Monterey Park and adjoining Alhambra, the place a gunman had entered one other dance corridor with a firearm shortly after the capturing in Monterey Park.

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The gunman was shortly disarmed by group members within the second incident and managed to flee the scene.

As authorities, together with SWAT officers, moved in on the van, they discovered the suspect had died. A number of items of proof within the van linked him to each crime scenes, Luna stated. A handgun was additionally discovered within the van, he added.

A motive within the lethal incident remains to be unclear, Luna stated.

The potential for a hate crime was a part of the probe, however authorities have been additionally working to find out whether or not the suspect knew any of the victims, Luna stated. Finally, he stated, getting solutions will take time.

“We don’t know if that is particularly a hate crime outlined by regulation, however who walks right into a dance corridor and weapons down 20 individuals?” Luna stated earlier Sunday “The outline we’ve now could be of a male Asian. Does that matter? I don’t know. I can let you know that all the things’s on the desk.”

Residents of Monterey Park seemed to be on alert Sunday, with Lo saying the town’s emergency dispatch facilities have been being “inundated with calls.”

“The Monterey Park Police Division is asking for the general public’s assist in solely using 911 for emergency associated calls,” he stated.

A survivors useful resource heart was established at Monterey Park’s Langley Senior Heart, he stated, including that psychological well being sources have been accessible for “anybody who wants help.”

Households and pals gathered on the heart via a lot of Sunday, ready to listen to information of family members who they feared may need been among the many 10 individuals killed or injured.

“I attempted to succeed in her, however I didn’t get any response,” Monterey Park resident Vivian King stated of a good friend she final heard from earlier within the weekend.

“It’s troublesome not realizing what’s occurring,” stated Juan Pablo Pinzon, a vacationer from Colombia who stated his cousin had been out with pals within the space Saturday night time and had not responded to texts and calls. “Hopefully, we’ll hear one thing quickly.”