11 Dead, 10 Injured in Monterey Park Mass Shooting; Heroism of Brandon Tsay Reminds Us to Take Action
Monterey Park Mass Shooting Leaves 11 Dead, Injures 10; Suspect Identified[0]
On Sunday, Jan 22, Huu Can Tran, 72, allegedly opened fire at a Monterey Park dance hall, killing 11 people and injuring 10 others.[0] The suspect was found dead in a white cargo van after an hours-long standoff with law enforcement authorities in Torrance, California.[1]
Footage of the incident shows Tsay, 26, tussling with Tran as the two wrestle over the weapon.[2] A physical altercation ensues, and Tsay is able to wrest the gun out of the man's grasp.[3] Tsay was able to create some distance, point the gun at the man, and shout: “Get the hell out here. I’ll shoot! Get away. Go!”[4]
The weapon found at the dance hall was a “semi-automatic assault pistol” with an extended large-capacity magazine attached, which is illegal in California.[0] Local officials praised Tsay’s courage and heroism, noting that the situation could have been much worse if he had not intervened. Tran’s ex-wife told NBC News that he had lost interest in her, something her sister also reportedly confirmed.[1]
The mass shooting in Monterey Park is the deadliest in the U.S. since a gunman killed 21 individuals in Uvalde, Tx.[5] By May 2022.[3] Tragically, gun violence continues to be a major issue in the United States, with more than 2,500 deaths as a result of gun violence in 2023 alone.[5] The bravery of Brandon Tsay serves as a reminder that we can all take action to help protect each other and make our communities safer.
0. “Suspect in Monterey Park massacre may have had illegal Cobray M11 semi-automatic handgun” The Pasadena Star-News, 23 Jan. 2023, https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2023/01/22/suspect-in-monterey-park-massacre-may-have-had-illegal-semi-automatic-handgun/
1. “Ex-wife of Monterey Park mass shooting suspect speaks out, says he was ‘quick to anger’” Yahoo! Voices, 23 Jan. 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/now/ex-wife-monterey-park-mass-170329250.html
2. “Inside the Monterey Park massacre: How the shooting unfolded” The Washington Post, 24 Jan. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/01/23/monterey-park-shooting-what-happened/
3. “Watch: Exclusive video captures moment man disarms Monterey Park shooter” NBC News, 23 Jan. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/watch-exclusive-video-captures-moment-man-disarms-monterey-park-shoote-rcna67061
4. “Man who disarmed Monterey Park shooter thought he ‘was gonna die’ — watch the video” Yahoo! Voices, 24 Jan. 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/now/man-disarmed-monterey-park-shooter-030700545.html
5. “Monterey Park Shooting is the 33rd Mass Shooting of 2023” TIME, 22 Jan. 2023, https://time.com/6249198/lunar-new-year-mass-shooting-monterey-park-california