California Mourns After Two Mass Shootings

What’s the story?

• California had two mass shootings in the past few days — one in Monterey Park that left 11 dead and another yesterday in Half Moon Bay that killed seven. 

Monterey Park 

• The suspected gunman, Huu Can Tran, attacked a dance studio this past weekend in Monterey Park, a city just east of Los Angeles. Tran, a 72-year-old, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 
• All of the victims were in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. Nine additional people were injured. Jorge Orozco, chief executive officer at LAC+USC Medical Center, said in a statement:

“Our teams continue to work around the clock to care for the remaining two victims receiving treatment at LAC+USC, and we remain hopeful for their recoveries. 

• Tran opened fire inside Star Dance Studio, a ballroom dance studio. The suspect then went to another ballroom studio in Alhambra called Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio, a few miles away. Here, two people successfully disarmed the gunman. 
• Authorities are still looking for a motive behind the attack. The community of Monterey Park, which is more than 65% Asian, is on edge and mourning, especially as the incident took place a block away from a Lunar New Year festival. Monterey Park council member Thomas Wong told NPR:

“Instead of celebrating and bringing family together to look forward to a hopeful and prosperous new year, we’re starting it off with a senseless tragedy.”

Half Moon Bay

• A gunman killed seven people in two locations in Half Moon Bay on Monday. At least one location was a plant nursery, according to the sheriff’s office. 
• Suspect Zhao Chunli, age 67, was arrested after being found in his car in a San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office substation parking lot. The sheriff’s office confirmed that there was no continuing threat to the community. 
• San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller said in a news conference: 

“There were farmworkers affected tonight. There were children on the scene at the incidents. This is a truly heartbreaking tragedy in our community.”

• Investigators are still working to establish a motive. While there is no known connection between the two locations of the shooting, the suspect is believed to have been a worker at the plant nursery.

This is an ongoing story and will be updated. 

-Jamie Epstein

(Photo credit: Twitter/@wepeoplefreedom)