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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: US CALIFORNIA SHOOTING
HEADLINE: Gunman Suspected of California Lunar New Year Shooting is Dead
TEASER: At least 10 people killed at dance hall and 10 injured
PUBLISHED AT: Monday, 01/23/2023 at 03:45 EST
BYLINE: Genia Dulot
DATELINE:
VIDEOGRAPHER: Genia Dulot
VIDEO EDITOR: Genia Dulot
PRODUCER: Jon Spier
SCRIPT EDITORS: Salem Solomon, pcd
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA, AP, AFP, Reuters
PLATFORMS: WEB__ TV X RADIO X
TRT: 3:05
VID APPROVED BY: pcd
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[On the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, a gunman opened fire at a dance hall in a predominantly Asian community of Monterey Park, California. At least 10 people died during and 10 were injured. Officials said a 72-year-old man suspected of carrying out the shooting was found dead the next day with self-inflicted gun wound. The motive for the attack is unclear. Genia Dulot reports.]]
((NARRATOR))
The shooting happened shortly after 10 p.m. local time on January 21 (Saturday), the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, at Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, California, a city with a majority Asian population.
((Andrew Meyer, Captain, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department))
“When officers arrived on scene, they observed numerous individuals, patrons of the location pouring out of the location screaming. The officers made entry to the location and located additional victims.”
((NARRATOR))
The alleged gunman, later identified as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, then drove to the Lai Lai Ballroom in nearby Alhambra, arriving there some 20 to 30 minutes after the first shooting. However, two people there managed to disarm him before he could cause more casualties.
Officials said Tran fled the second location in a white cargo van, which was spotted the next morning in Torrance, a city about 50 kilometers southwest of Monterey Park.
((Robert Luna, Los Angeles County Sheriff))
“As Torrance officers pulled behind the vehicle, the white van entered the shopping center parking lot, when officers exited their patrol vehicle to contact the occupant, they heard one gunshot, coming from within the van.”
((NARRATOR))
Police said Tran killed himself. Later police discovered evidence inside the van, linking Tran to the shooting in Monterey Park. Officials said that no other suspects are at large.
Luna described the weapon recovered at Alhambra as a magazine-fed semiautomatic assault pistol, which he believes to be illegal in the state of California. A second handgun was discovered in the van where Tran was found dead.
President Joe Biden issued a proclamation Sunday honoring the victims of the mass shooting, ordering flags to fly at half-staff at the White House and other federal buildings until sunset Thursday.
The Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking at an event in Tallahassee, Florida, addressed the tragedy in Monterey Park.
((Kamala Harris, US Vice President))
“All of us in this room and in our country understand: this violence must stop. And President Biden and I, and our administration will continue to provide full support to local authorities as we learn more.”
((NARRATOR))
Monterey Park’s mayor also reflected on the tragic event.
((Henry Lo, Mayor, Monterey Park, California))
“This is a diverse community, a very diverse community. Yesterday, we kicked off our Lunar Celebration and our police department, very much aware of its diversity, also has within its ranks those who are multilingual, as well as multicultural. And I want to rest assure, I want the community to be rest assured that our police department will continue every day to protect the safety of everyone who lives in Monterey Park.”
((NARRATOR))
Sheriff Luna said the victims of the shooting all appear to be over 50 years old.
((Genia Dulot, for VOA News, Monterey Park, California.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJanuary 23, 2023 04:20 EST
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
