The number of people confirmed dead following a mass shooting at a Lunar New Year celebration in California has risen to 11 people.
One of the 10 people injured in the atrocity in Monterey Park, about 11 kilometers east of downtown Los Angeles, has now died from their injuries, health officials said.
Two women, My Nhan, 65, and Lilian Li, 63, were named among the dead.
Sky News understands that Ming Wei Ma, owner of Star Ballroom Dance Studio, has also passed away.
All but one of the victims were aged 60 or older, according to the Los Angeles coroner’s office.
About 20 minutes after the shooting, the 72-year-old suspect, Huu Can Tran, entered the dance club Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio in the neighboring city of Alhambra.
Brandon Tsay, who runs the family-run venue, described how he won the weapon from him before he could even start shooting.
“That moment, it was primal instinct,” Tsay told The New York Times, adding that the gunman fled the scene after a 90-second struggle.
“Something happened there. I don’t know what happened to me.”
Photos of the suspect have been released by officers
Mr Tsay told ABC: “When I mustered up my courage, I ran at him with both hands, grabbed his weapon and we struggled.
“We struggled into the lobby, trying to get this gun out of each other. He hit me in the face, hit the back of my head.”
After finally taking control of the gun, Mr. Tsay said he pointed the gun at Tran and shouted: “Get out of here! I’ll shoot! Get out! Go now!”
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Police surround the suspect’s car
About 12 hours later, police officers in Torrance, 20 miles southwest of Monterey Park, cornered a white van Tran was driving.
As the officers approached, they heard a single gunshot from inside as Tran killed himself.
His mobile home in a retirement community was ransacked.
Law enforcement said the evidence gathered so far indicates personal motives, not terrorism or hate crimes, NBC reported.
A man lays flowers at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio
Spokesman Alan Reyes said it was reported that Tran had visited police in his town of Hemet twice this month to accuse him of being the victim of a fraud, theft and poisoning case. by family members 10 to 20 years ago in the LA area.
Tran said he would return to the station with documents but never did.
One former tenant described him as “angry and distrustful”.
“There’s a lot of speculation and we don’t know,” Monterey Park Mayor Henry Lo said when asked about a potential motive.
This is the fifth US mass murder this month.
