AAuthorities said they have been unable to establish a connection between the suspect in the Monterey Park mass shooting and any of his victims.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said they do not believe Huu Can Tran, 72, has frequented the Star Ballroom dance studio, where the shooting took place, in the past five years, according to the eyewitness testimony and reporting by Julia Wick of the Los Angeles Times.
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At least 11 people were killed and nine others were wounded after a gunman, believed to be Tran, entered the ballroom around 10:22 p.m. Saturday and opened fire. Each of the victims was in their 50s, 60s or 70s, officials said.
A man places a candle during a vigil outside Monterey Park City Hall, blocks from the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Monterey Park, California. A gunman killed several people at the ballroom dance studio Saturday night Lunar New Year celebrations in the predominantly Asian American community. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Ashley Landis/AP
Tran was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Law enforcement officials said they believe he tried to carry out another mass shooting less than half an hour after the first, which was foiled only by a man who saw the threat and disarmed him.
In other new details announced Wednesday night, Luna said a motorcycle registered to Tran was recovered a block from the ballroom, parked there before Saturday’s shooting. According to Wick, investigators believe Tran’s intent was to have an alternate getaway vehicle.
Still, no motive has yet been identified in the mass shooting that rocked California and the nation. Because it occurred during a Lunar New Year celebration and in a predominantly Asian American community, many have speculated whether it should be considered a racial hate crime.
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Vice President Kamala Harris visited a memorial set up outside the Star Dance Studio on Wednesday to honor the victims killed in the shooting.
Vice President Kamala Harris visits a memorial outside Star Dance Studio in Monterey Park, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, to honor the victims killed in last week’s mass shooting. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Jae C. Hong/AP
Just two days after the Monterey Park shooting, at least seven people were killed in a series of shootings in Half Moon Bay, California. Police arrested Chunli Zhao, 67, in connection with the attack, and officials said Monday that he was “fully cooperating” and was taken into custody “without incident.” Officials believe he is the only suspect.