A 72-year-old gunman opened fire after storming his old dance hall and slaughtering ten people before driving less than three miles to launch another attack.
Hu Can Tran indiscriminately fired his illegal semi-automatic pistol at Star Dance Studio in Monterey Park at 10:22 p.m.
Police say they are yet to confirm a motive, but are investigating whether he was “looking for his wife” – although it remains unclear if she was among the victims.
He arrived at the dance studio and opened beforehand, with authorities being notified of the mass shooting just seven minutes after the shooting.
Huu Can Tran, 72, shot dead ten people and injured ten others at a dance hall in California – before driving less than three miles to launch another attack
After an hours-long standoff, Tran died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the van he escaped from
Investigators are still pieced together the details of the evening, which took place shortly after the Lunar New Year celebrations.
911 calls at 10:22 p.m. show ten people shot dead in the studio, two others in critical condition and eight shot dead in the parking lot.
Those in the studio have been pronounced dead at the scene, the others have been hospitalized and seven are still receiving treatment.
Officials confirmed the death toll from the mass shooting at 10:38 p.m. after arriving with rescue teams at the scene at 10:33 p.m.
At 10:40 p.m., the incident is declared a mass casualty incident and at 10:45 p.m., additional unit forces are called in.
Tran fled the ballroom and traveled 2.7 miles to a second dance studio – the Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio.
Investigators are still pieced together the details of the evening, which took place shortly after the Lunar New Year celebrations
This image shows the interior of Star Dance Studios in Monterey Park, where ten were killed and ten others injured
Those in the studio have been pronounced dead at the scene, the others have been hospitalized and seven are still receiving treatment
He burst into the studio at 10:42 p.m., with police confirming he had intended to “kill two other people” but not identifying the potential victims.
Two heroic spectators pounced on the shooter and managed to snatch his gun from him.
Brandon Tsay, 26, helped out on Saturday as dozens attended the Lunar New Year party.
The Lai Lai is owned by his family and he bravely attacked and took the gun from Tren – allowing police to identify the suspect.
Tsay said it was “primal instinct” that led him to attack the shooter, adding that Trans’s eyes are “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 ballroom and traveled 2.7 miles to a second dance studio – the Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio
Brave Brandon Tsay fought back, eventually driving Tran out of the ballroom lobby before he could shoot anyone
Officials confirmed the death toll from the mass shooting at 10:38 p.m. after arriving with rescue teams at the scene at 10:33 p.m. At 10:40 p.m., the incident is declared a mass casualty incident and at 10:45 p.m., additional unit forces are called in
Officers were then called to the second dance studio, but Tran had already left the area.
They spotted his van on surveillance footage — sparking a 10-hour manhunt.
Tran is said to have traveled to a nearby hospital because of minor injuries, where the staff recognized him and passed on his details to the authorities.
Authorities tracked him down after spotting his fan in a parking lot in Torrance, more than 20 miles from where the shooting took place.
Officers approached his white van around 10.20am on Sunday and heard a single gunshot before retreating.
Tran was pulled over by police shortly after being spotted in hospital for treatment. A SWAT team ambushed the van after a three-hour standoff
Tran was carrying a semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine, and a second pistol was discovered in the van where he was found dead, officials said
Officers approached his white van around 10.20am on Sunday and heard 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 1 p.m.
Police have yet to confirm exactly what led him to commit the murders, but a source told LA Magazine it was a “domestic argument” and he was “looking for his wife.”
His first wife – who he divorced in 2005 – has since spoken anonymously to CNN to describe how they met at Star Dance, where he taught classes for years.
The woman said he would often scold her if she missed a dance step and that he would get angry easily.
Officers are guarding the crime scene near the intersection of Garvey and Garfield Avenues