Monterey Park massacre: Two of ten victims in California mass shooting identified
MONTEREY PARK, CALIFORNIA: Two victims of the Monterey Park shooting were identified on Monday, January 23, according to authorities who revealed that all ten victims were over the age of 50. Among the people killed in the horrifying massacre were My Nhan, 65, and Lilan Li, 63. On Saturday night, January 21, Huu Can Tran, 72, opened fire at a dance studio killing 10 people and wounding at least 10 others. In a dramatic standoff with police, the murderer killed himself in his van nearby Torrance.
On Monday, January 23, the family of identified victim Nhan who called her Mymy, stated that they are "still sinking in" the loss and the mass attack. Her family took to Twitter, posting a "The Nhan and Quan Family" signed statement that wrote, “She spent so many years going to the dance studio in Monterey Park on weekends. It’s what she loved to do. But unfairly, Saturday was her last dance. We are starting the Lunar New Year broken. We never imagined her life would end so suddenly.” Thanking their community and neighbors for their support, the family also stated, “Mymy was 65 years old. If you knew her, you knew her warm smile and kindness were contagious. She was a loving aunt, sister, daughter, and friend. Mymy was our biggest cheerleader.”
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Mymy Nhan was the first person shot and killed during the #MontereyPark mass shooting.
— Tiffany Liou (@tliou) January 23, 2023
I've covered a lot of tragedies, and never imagined one would hit so close to home.
My husband's family is hurting beyond measure.
Here's a statement on behalf of the family. pic.twitter.com/q5GXa0g4Kh
Victims of Monterey Park mass shooting
In a news conference, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated that Tran "intended to kill more people," and speaking of the patrons, he said, "They saved lives. This could've been much worse." Other unnamed victims of the California shooting include two men in their 70s, two men in their 60s, two women in their 60s, and a woman in her 50s, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, the New York Post reported.
On Saturday, the shooter who was reportedly spotted alone used a semi-automatic pistol and entered the Star Ballroom Dance Studio shooting ten people and injuring at least ten others. He was then disarmed by a hero civilian before Tran attempted to enter Lai Lai, another dance hall with the intention of causing similar damage.
The killer's motive behind the brutal mass shooting has not been revealed officially. However, as per the statement of a law-enforcement source, Tran was "looking for his wife" and the intention appears to be related to domestic violence, according to LA Magazine.
The mass shooting took place in Monterey Park, a city of 60,000 people with a majority of Asian Americans. The tragic incident occurred while the city was hosting its annual Lunar New Year Celebration.