First victim of Chinese Lunar New Year dance studio massacre who owned the dance hall
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The first victim of the mass slaughter has been identified as the owner of the ballroom studio, as the death toll rises to 11.
Ming Wei Ma is one of ten people who died in the horrific massacre at the Star Dance Studio in Monterey Park, California on Saturday night.
One more victim succumbed to his extensive injuries while in the hospital on the Monday after the shooting.
The family of 65-year-old My Nhan also paid tribute to the enthusiastic dancer whose ‘kindness was contagious’.
Ma’s friends have revealed that he was the first to run towards the gunman, Huu Can Tran, when he opened fire.
Dozens of people packed the studio on Saturday night to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year.
Police say they have yet to define a motive for the deadly shooting, but sources say Tran may have been looking for his wife.
Friends of dance enthusiast Ming Wei Ma, left, revealed that he was the first to run towards the gunman, Huu Can Tran, when he opened fire.
Mymy Nhan, 65, has been identified as one of the other victims of the mass murder on Saturday night.
Lilan Li, 63, has been identified as one of the other victims, with three other women, two in their 60s and one in their 50s, and five men in their 60s and 70s have been identified as those killed.
Nhan’s family said in a statement: “She spent so many years going to the dance studio in Monterey Park on the weekends.” It’s what she loved to do.
But, unfairly, Saturday was his last dance. We are starting the Lunar New Year broken; we never imagined that his life would end so suddenly.
‘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. Thank you for all her thoughts and prayers. We appreciate the support of our neighbors and the community.’
Ma’s friend Eric Chen told CBS: “According to the chat, he was the first to rush the shooter.” He just cared, others first, people first, the kind of person.
“It’s heartbreaking and it’s unthinkable for it to happen.”
Instructor Lauren Woods added: “He was so adorable to me and I realized he was the heart of Star Ballroom.
Ming Wei Ma, right, is one of eleven people who died in the horrific massacre at the Star Dance Studio in Monterey Park, California, on Saturday night.
Huu Can Tran, 72, shot and killed eleven people and wounded nine more at a California dance hall, before driving less than three miles to launch another attack.
This image shows the interior of the nightclub where the shots were fired and eleven people were killed
“So many dancers, teachers and organizers were connected to Ma and I will personally miss him dearly.”
Authorities have yet to release the identities of the 10 victims who died in the attack.
Police were called to the shooting at the dance studio at 10:22 p.m. and arrived at the scene minutes later to find ten dead inside the building.
Two others were found seriously injured inside and eight others were found with injuries outside the ballroom.
Seven currently remain in the hospital receiving treatment for their injuries, and Tran then travels to another dance studio less than 2.7 miles away.
He entered the Lai Lai dance hall in Alhambra around 20 minutes after the first shooting, and brave patrons managed to disarm him.
Police say he had planned to shoot at least two other people, before the firearm was taken from him.
Local hospital staff said a man matching Tran’s description was seen inside the emergency room with injuries that appeared to have been sustained in a fight.
He waited a period of time but left without receiving treatment, and staff recognized him from photos of the wanted gunman released by the sheriff’s department.
Those inside the study were pronounced dead at the scene, the others were rushed to hospital, and seven continue to receive treatment.
Police say they have yet to define a motive for the deadly shooting, but sources say Tran may have been looking for his wife.
Aerial footage shows officials removing unknown items from the white van after the confrontation.
Tran was on the run until Sunday afternoon when police apprehended him in the van he used to flee the scene.
After an hour-long standoff, Tran died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the vehicle that was later searched by a SWAT team.
In a statement, Star Dance said: ‘Thank you for your prayers and thoughts during this difficult time.
‘What should have been a festive night to welcome the first day of the Lunar New Year turned into a tragedy.
‘Our hearts go out to all the victims, survivors and their families. In this time of healing, we hope that all those affected have space to grieve and process what has happened in the last 24 hours.
“In the meantime, all classes will be canceled and the studio will remain closed until further notice.”
Authorities believe Tran acted alone and are not seeking anyone else in connection with the mass shooting.
Tran was carrying what was described as a semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine, and a second handgun was discovered in the truck where he was found dead, authorities said.
Shortly after he was seen at the hospital for treatment, the police detained Tran. A SWAT team surrounded the van after a three-hour standoff.
Other survivors have posted their horrifying injuries after the gunman shot them, and a daughter is still searching for her mother after the attack.
Juno Blees said her father, Jeff Liu, was hospitalized with gunshot wounds after he and his wife Nancy went to the Star Dance studio for the celebrations.
Liu, 62, was released from the hospital yesterday, but his 63-year-old wife has yet to be found by the family.
They hope she was rushed to hospital after the attack, but are “preparing for the worst” after he saw her collapse when the gunman opened fire.
Mae Ikigai added that her mother was shot in the shoulder and waist but is no longer in critical condition.
She said: ‘He told us it was five tables from where the gunman was standing. She was dancing with her friends and the dance instructor when she heard a noise that sounded like fireworks.
‘He turned around and saw a man holding a long gun firing indiscriminately. He quickly dropped to the ground and felt one of his bullets graze his left shoulder and waist.
Juno Blees said her father, Jeff Liu, was hospitalized with gunshot wounds after he and his wife Nancy went to the Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park to celebrate Lunar New Year and her mother is still missing.
The family is still waiting for her to be taken to the hospital without her ID card and to be reunited.