Who is Chester Chong? Community leader reveals possible motive behind Monterey Park mass shooting
Update: Huu Can Tran, 72, has been named by the police as the suspect in the California, Monterey Park mass shooting. He was found slumped at the wheel inside a white van at a shopping centre car park after the shooting at Monterey Park. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said police heard a gunshot upon approaching the van. He is believed to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. According to ABC, Sheriff Luna also mentioned that the handgun was found inside the van and that there are no outstanding suspects as of now.
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MONTEREY PARK, CALIFORNIA: Following the mass shooting that took place at a dance studio on Saturday night, January 21, a prominent member of the Monterey Park community has revealed a possible motive behind the attack. The gunman reportedly shot dead 10 people and injured at least 10 others.
The community leader, Chester Chong, has now said that he believes the suspect's possible motive could have been related to a domestic dispute, according to ABC. The driver of a white van believed to be tied to the shooting is dead, The Los Angeles Times reported. Law enforcement sources have revealed that the driver died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. At least two bullet holes were visible on the window on the driver's side.
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Who is Chester Chong?
Chester Chong is the chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles. He was a Reserve Commander at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in the past, his LinkedIn profile says. Chong attended the University of Southern California.
Chong said the owner of the dance studio on West Garvey Avenue, where the shooting occurred, was holding an event there on the night of the tragedy. He spoke with friends who attended it, as well as other local leaders and said a woman was invited to the event but her husband was not, making him upset. He believes the woman's husband is the suspect, who acted out of jealousy. He said the dance studio's owner often held such events and people frequently got upset about not being able to attend them. Investigators, however, have not corroborated these claims or revealed any possible motive behind the attack.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said the suspect is believed to be an Asian male between 30 to 50 of age. Among the victims are five women and five men, but none of them have been identified yet. A two-day Monterey Park Lunar New Year Festival which was supposed to take place this week has been canceled. The incident is being investigated by several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI.
On Saturday January 21, 2023 at 10:22 PM the suspect male/adult/Asian pictured above was involved in a shooting. Investigators have identified him as a Homicide suspect and he should be considered armed and dangerous.
— Robert Luna (@LACoSheriff) January 22, 2023
Contact LASD Homicide with any information at 323-890-5000. pic.twitter.com/2gPUBBybvv
Anyone with information on the case is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. To provide information anonymously, one can call Crime Stoppers by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477).