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California shooting suspect dead; shot himself as cops closed in: Reports

Suspect identified as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran

California Shooting This combination image created using photos provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department shows the male suspect | AP

The suspect in the California dance club shooting that left at least 10 persons dead has killed himself, according to reports. He shot himself as police officers closed in on the van he used to flee the crime scene, AP reported on Monday morning.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna has identified the man as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran.

What we know so far

The manhunt came after the gunman killed 10 people at a ballroom dance studio late Saturday amid Lunar New Years celebrations in the predominantly Asian American community of Monterey Park. He likely tried and failed to target a second dance hall, authorities said. Luna said the shooting at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park left five women and five men dead and wounded another 10 people. Luna did not have the exact ages of the victims but said they all appeared to be over 50.

Luna had previously released photos of an Asian man who was believed to be the suspect but had not named him.

Soon after the shooting at Monterey Park, an armed suspect, believed to be Tran himself, walked into Lai Lai Ballroom & Studio in nearby Alhambra, but “some individuals wrestled the firearm from him, and that individual took off,” Luna said, the LA Times reported.

More than 12 hours after the shooting, armed officers tracked a white van in which the suspect had escaped. When they closed in on the van in Torrance, SWAT officers smashed the window of the van and found the man's body inside.

Authorities have yet to reveal a possible motive for California's worst shooting incident. Detectives are still looking into the suspect's criminal history. Luna said that he believes the gunman possibly intended to “kill more people”.

The shooting sent a wave of fear through Asian American communities in the Los Angeles area and cast a shadow over Lunar New Year festivities around the country.

Gun control measures

Speaking of gun control measures, Luna said: “California has some of the strictest gun laws in the country... let's look across our nation and see what works and what doesn’t".While offering condolences, US president Joe Biden acknowledged the impact of the massacre on the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. He said: "Even as we continue searching for answers about this attack, we know how deeply this attack has impacted the AAPI community. Monterey Park is home to one of the largest AAPI communities in America, many of whom were celebrating the Lunar New Year along with loved ones and friends this weekend.” 

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