Information was emerging Monday about the victims of a mass shooting in Monterey Park, California, over the weekend that left 11 people dead and nine others wounded.
The dead include a woman in her 50s, four women in their 60s and a woman in her 70s, as well as two men in their 60s and three men in their 70s, according to Sarah Ardalani, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County medical examiner.
The LA County Department of Health Services on Monday announced the 11th fatality, the woman in her 70s. Authorities said the initial death count from Saturday night’s attack was 10, with at least another 10 injured.
The shooting happened Saturday night amid Lunar New Year festivities at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in the predominantly Asian American Southern California city of 60,000 people.
The suspect, 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, was found dead Sunday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the van he used to flee after a second shooting that citizens thwarted, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. Authorities were still searching for a motive Monday.
My Nhan ‘loved’ going to dance studios in Monterey Park, Alhambra
My Nhan, whose family provided 顏美美 as a traditional Chinese spelling, was killed in the shooting, Ardalani said.
Nhan’s family said the loss of “Mymy” was still “sinking in” Monday, according to a statement from Nhan’s niece, Fonda Quan, which was shared online.
“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,” the statement said.
Nhan, 65, was a “loving aunt, sister, daughter and friend,” the statement said. “If you knew her, you knew her warm smile and kindness was contagious,” the statement said. “Mymy was our biggest cheerleader.”
Family members said they “are starting the Lunar New Year broken.”
Nhan was also a frequent student at the second studio targeted, Lai Lai Ballroom & Dance in Alhambra, according to Maksym Kapitanchuk, a dance instructor there.
Kapitanchuk said Nhan had been one of his students since he began teaching classes after he immigrated from Ukraine in 2009. Kapitanchuk said Nhan brought friends and new dancers to his group classes – sometimes upwards 20 new people – which helped him get his career started in the U.S. and create a “family” of students at Lai Lai.
“It’s unfair, dance was her life – as soon as she finished work, she would drive to Lai Lai to take group classes or to take private classes,” Kapitanchuk told USA TODAY on the phone Monday. “She would help out at so many different parties, and she would buy many, many tickets, and she would just give them out to her friends just so they can go enjoy it.”
Nhan had been dancing for multiple decades with her dance partner and friend, Mike, who was injured in the shooting, according to Kapitanchuk.
Several other victims identified killed in shooting
Valentino Alvero, 68, Lilan Li, 63, and Xiujuan Yu, 57, were also killed in the shooting, Ardalani said.
Authorities were still notifying the families of the other victims, according to Ardalani.
Early Monday, Monterey Park Mayor Henry Lo told CNN a list of victim names circulating on social media “can’t be confirmed yet.”
George Chen, mayor of nearby Torrance, California, told the outlet it was “possible” some of the victims were residents of Torrance.
One person hospitalized in serious condition
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services said Monday one of the wounded victims was in serious condition.
Officials speaking during a Monday press conference did not provide updates on the conditions of the injured people.
“Given the nature of the incident, information is limited. We’re doing our best to get updates,” said Monterey Park Fire Chief Matthew Hallock.
Vigils planned for victims
A memorial event is planned for Monday evening, and a community candlelight vigil is planned for Tuesday night at Monterey Park City Hall to honor the victims. Another is set for Wednesday outside Star Dance Studio.
“We believe that it is important for our community to come together to remember and heal,” Lo said in a statement.
Read more on the Monterey Park shooting
Contributing: The Associated Press
USA TODAY
Source link