A 72-year-old gunman opened fire after storming his old dance hall – slaughtering ten people – before driving less than three miles to launch another attack.
Hu Can Tran shot indiscriminately at the Star Dance Studio in Monterey Park at 10.22pm with his illegal semi-automatic pistol.
Police say they have yet to confirm a motive, but they are investigating if he was ‘looking for his wife’ – though it remains unclear if she was among the victims.
He arrived at the dance studio and opened fire before, with authorities being informed of the mass shooting just seven minutes after it took place.
Huu Can Tran, 72, shot and killed ten people and injured ten more at a dance hall in California – before driving less than three miles to launch another attack
After an hours-long standoff, Tran died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the van he used to flee
Investigators are still piecing together the details of the evening, which took place shortly after Lunar New Year celebrations.
Dispatch calls at 10,22pm reveal that ten people were shot dead inside the studio, with a further two being left in critical condition and eight being shot in the parking lot.
Those inside the studio were pronounced dead at the scene, with the others being rushed to hospital, and seven continue to receive treatment.
Officers confirmed the death toll of the mass shooting at 10.38pm after arriving on the scene with rescue units at 10.33pm.
At 10.40pm the incident is declared as a mass casualty incident, with additional uniter requested at 10.45pm.
Tran fled the scene of the ballroom and traveled 2.7miles to a second dance studio – the Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio.
Investigators are still piecing together the details of the evening, which took place shortly after Lunar New Year celebrations
This image shows the inside of the Star Dance Studio in Monterey Park, where ten were killed and ten more injured
Those inside the studio were pronounced dead at the scene, with the others being rushed to hospital, and seven continue to receive treatment
He burst into the studio at 10.42pm, with police confirming that he had intended to ‘kill two more people’ but did not identify the potential victims.
Two heroic bystanders launched themselves at the gunman and managed to wrestle his firearm away from him.
Brandon Tsay, 26, was helping out on Saturday when dozens were attending the Lunar New Year party.
His family owns the Lai Lai, and he bravely tacked Tren and took his weapon off him – which allowed police to identify the suspect.
Tsay said it was ‘primal instinct’ that took over and caused him to attack the gunman, adding that Tran’s eyes were ‘menacing’.
He claimed that he was ‘scanning the room’ for targets but was forced to flee after being disarmed by Tsay and others.
Tran fled the scene of the ballroom and traveled 2.7miles to a second dance studio – the Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio
Brave Brandon Tsay fought back and eventually drove Tran out of the ballroom lobby before he could shoot anyone
Officers confirmed the death toll of the mass shooting at 10.38pm after arriving on the scene with rescue units at 10.33pm. At 10.40pm the incident is declared as a mass casualty incident, with additional uniter requested at 10.45pm
Officers were then called to the second dance studio, but Tran had already left the area.
They spotted his while van leaving on surveillance footage – sparking a 10-hour manhunt.
Tran is understood to have traveled to an area hospital for minor injuries, where staff recognized him and passed his details on to authorities.
Authorities tracked him down after spotting his fan in a parking lot in Torrance, more than 20 miles away from where the shooting took place.
Officers approached his white van at around 10.20am on Sunday, hearing a single gunshot before retreating.
Shortly after he was spotted at the hospital for treatment, Tran was pulled over by police. A SWAT team swarmed the van after a three-hour long standoff
Tran was carrying what was described as a semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine, and a second handgun was discovered in the van where he was found dead, officials said
Officers approached his white van at around 10.20am on Sunday, hearing a single gunshot before retreating
SWAT teams then determined that Tran suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene at 1pm.
Police are yet to confirm exactly what drove him to commit the murders but a source told LA Magazine it was a ‘domestic dispute’ and that he was looking ‘for his wife’.
His first wife – whom he divorced in 2005 – has since spoken anonymously to CNN to describe how they met at Star Dance, where he taught lessons for years.
The woman said he would often berate her if she got a dance step wrong, and that he was quick to fly into a rage.
The officers stand guard at the scene near the intersection of Garvey and Garfield Avenue