Monterey Park shooter, 72, lived ‘quietly’ alone in senior town

The Monterey Park shooter who killed 11 people Saturday at a Lunar New Year party in a ballroom was living quietly in a community for the elderly, shocked neighbors have revealed.

Huu Can Tran, 72, shot himself in a van on Sunday after being surrounded by SWAT teams. His motive for the rampage at Star Dance Studio remains unconfirmed, but police sources say it was a “domestic dispute.”

His ex-wife had been invited to the party at the studio where he used to teach, but he had not, according to Chester Chong, president of the Los Angeles Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Tran used to teach at the studio and it was there that he met his ex-wife. They divorced in 2005.

According to Los Angeles Times, Tran had complained to police in Hemet, where he lived, that he feared his family might try to poison him.

Police officers also said Monday afternoon that he had filed fraud and theft complaints dating back 20 years against his family at a local police station on January 7 and 9.

He told them he would return with documents about their claims, but officials say he never returned.

It’s unclear if he and his ex have children. He lived alone in The Lakes in Hemet West, a 55+ community about 75 miles from the shootings.

‘Tran was just a nice guy. I mean, he would see him driving his little motorcycle in and out, occasionally in his truck.

“He would stop to pet your dog, and everyone here thought he was a quiet little guy.

“People I’ve spoken to are stunned that he’s involved in this.

“He pretty much lived by himself, and I guess he taught dance or something, ballroom dancing,” said neighbor Pat Roth. Home News.

Tran lived in The Lakes at Hemet West, a retirement community for people over 50. Neighbors said that he was quiet and polite, and that he would stop to pet his dogs.

A house next to Tran’s that is currently for sale. he lived alone

The ex-wife has not been publicly named. she however told him CNN that Tran was hot-tempered and cruel to her when they worked on Star Dance.

An old friend also revealed that he felt the Star Dance instructors didn’t like him and said “bad things” about him.

He was “hostile to a lot of people there,” said the friend, who also did not want to be named.

He moved into the senior community in 2013. Tran owns a trucking business called Tran’s Trucking, but the company does not appear to be operational.

On Saturday, he opened fire on the Star Dance Studio at 10:22 p.m., shooting at random before fleeing in his truck.

He then went to the Lai Lai Ballroom, where he was knocked down by Brandon Tsay, the 26-year-old son of the ballroom owners, who was there helping.

Tsay knocked the gunman’s glasses off his face in the struggle. Tran fled and then committed suicide

There was a fight between the pair, with Tran punching Tsay and hitting him with the gun.

tsay said Good morning america Y The New York Times As the She was helping out at her family’s business Saturday night when dozens of people poured into the ballroom for a Lunar New Year party.

‘It was Chinese New Year, we were hosting a social dance party.

I was in the lobby and it was already late. Most of our customers have already left, I was looking towards the ballroom.

“That’s when I heard the sound of the front door creaking, followed instantly by the sound of metal objects rubbing against each other.

“I turned around and saw that there was an Asian man with a gun. My first thought was that he was going to die here. That’s all.’

He said The New York Times in a separate interview that it was ‘primal instinct’ to attack him, and that Tran’s eyes were ‘menacing’.

Tsay had never seen Tran before.

He said he instantly knew he was there to commit a mass shooting and was scanning the room for targets.

‘I realized he wasn’t here to rob us, he wasn’t looking for money. She was looking around the room. It seemed that she was looking for targets, people to harm.

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.

‘Something came over me: I realized I needed to take this weapon, disarm it, or else they would all have died.

“When I got up the courage, I lunged at him with both hands, grabbed the gun, and we struggled to the lobby, trying to get the gun from us. He was punching me in the face and hitting my head.

‘I was trying to create some distance. Finally, at one point, I was able to get the gun away from him, push him to the side, and create some distance.

‘I was able to grab the gun and point it at him, intimidate him, yell, ‘Get out of here! I will shoot! Get away!’

‘At this point, I thought he would run away. She was contemplating whether to fight or flee. I really thought I would have to shoot him. That’s when he turned and walked out the door, walking back to his truck.

I immediately called the police, gun still in hand. I couldn’t believe what happened,’ he said.

The Star Dance Studio in Monterey Park, which was attacked Saturday night.

Tran was also identified as the gunman who entered the Lai Lai dance hall in nearby Alhambra just 20 to 30 minutes after the first shooting, but was thwarted by brave patrons.