‘Always smiling’: Man who managed California dance hall among those killed
Updated: 4:17 PM CST Jan 24, 2023
I’d like to thank you all for being here today. I really want to thank everyone standing behind me for coming out to support us. Uh you’ll hear from some of them, but many of those you won’t hear from have really been doing *** great job of either offering assistance, giving assistance, but we’re here today uh with some successes. And I think *** lot of that is because of the partnerships that we have with the people behind us. So just to start off, our homicide investigators are still working very hard uh as they were yesterday through the night and today. Uh this is *** very complex investigation. There’s so many other things we don’t know. Uh but as I told you yesterday, when we started or when we get more information, we’ll be happy to bring it forth as we get it. And it’s not only the Sheriff’s department that’s working on this. Uh we’re still working very hard with our partners uh from the FBI, the ***. T. F. The District Attorney’s office. The list goes on and on. Uh and uh so anyways, we have additional information that we’re going to be sharing with you today. I think some of this information may have gotten out the last several hours, but I do regret to inform everybody that we did unfortunately have an 11th victim passed away. Also. Now we have *** total of 11 victims that unfortunately have died as *** result of this tragic incident. I also want to share the names of three victims in which this is *** key. I’m sharing these because the next of kin notifications have been completed. That’s number one, my han Uh female 65 years of age, Lillian lee Female, years of age And I’ll borrow Valentino Mayo 68 years of age. I’m gonna pause there for *** second. It’s not so much because the sirens going by. But when you think of it, uh, these are three people who wanted to send one, three families who will never be the same. And we have to remember that as we’re talking about these at the end of the day, it truly should be about the victims and their families and the support and love our prayers. Our thoughts should be with all of them as we move forward. So as most of you are aware last night we served *** search warrant at the suspect’s residence in the city of Heaven. As *** result of the search warrant, service investigators recovered *** few items of interest. These are just, it’s *** summary, not everything we recovered. We recovered 1308 caliber rifle, numerous electronic devices such as cell phones, computers, et cetera, items that need us to believe the suspect was manufacturing homemade firearm suppressors an unknown amount. I say unknown amount. And I’ll explain that here of 308 caliber and nine millimeter caliber ammunition and the recently say an unknown amount they were in containers and there are hundreds of rounds. We don’t know exactly how many, there were *** lot of loose ammunition. So eventually, you know, we’ll get to exactly how many of those were from the Monterey Park scene Where the victims were assassinated. Investigators recovered *** total of 42 shell casings and *** large capacity magazine. So 42 rounds were fired by the suspect at that location, investigators also recovered *** Norinco 7.62 by 25. Handgun from inside the suspect’s cargo van. That’s the handgun that you saw being recovered from the van yesterday afternoon. That firearm was registered to the suspect. There was also clothing that the suspect war during the commission of the scribes and that was also recovered from the man. We have also learned that the firearm which was wrestled away from the suspect at the Al Hamra scene was *** nine millimeter caliber semi automatic MAC 10 assault weapon. I want to emphasize that all the firearms recovered still require additional forensic ballistic examinations and comparisons that we’re doing with our partners as well as additional investigations into the origins of where the suspect got those weapons. *** lot of work to be done there. But we don’t want to leave any stone unturned. We are still not able to release additional information and photographs of the weapon. That’s one thing I was pushing our people to release the picture of the weapons that we recover, but there’s still witnesses that need to identify some of these things and we don’t put them out there. It starts impacting the investigation. So that’s why we’re not releasing pictures yet Regarding the suspect’s background. He has *** limited criminal history with an arrest in 1990 for an unlawful possession of *** firearm. I’d like to take *** second to also thank mr Brandon sty uh, for his heroic action which saved countless lives. He’s the hero that disarmed the suspect at the Alhambra uh, location and in my opinion, saved many lives. Originally, we put out that there were two people we find out ultimately, as we normally do as these things that investigated, there was only actually one person who disarmed him. But as you know, we’re trying to put out information. It was preliminary. So there was one and that’s his name and uh, what *** brave man he is. The landing center continues to be open for victim resources and next to 10 notifications where we are being assisted by *** lot of partners who have come forward, uh, embracing all of the victims, different organizations and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate them. Uh, and they’re going to be needed for weeks and months and who knows how long to come. So thank you very much. for your efforts on that. And then I just want to remind everybody and the other speakers will speak. I’ll come back up here. I’ll answer as many questions as I can. But just please remember that our investigators along with our partners continue to investigate all the details. There’s *** lot of stories coming forward. We’re not ignoring any of them. But we’ve heard some things that just are 2nd 3rd hand information. And the investigators are stifling through all that information uh to make sure that we determine *** motive. We still don’t have *** motive, but we want to know the motive behind this tragic event. Uh and the FBI continues to collaborate with us in that portion of the investigation. And then finally, before I turn the microphone over, I would like to thank Chief of Police and the Monterey Park Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms, the District Attorney’s office, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the United States Department of Justice in Los Angeles County medical examiner, coroner’s office and all the various agencies that assisted us. Like I said yesterday, I’m getting calls all the way from our attorney general. I spoke to our governor before coming down here and he has been very kind and offering uh not only his condolences but his support for anything that we may need. So with that I will turn it over to supervisor. Thank you. Thank you Sheriff luna. I represent the first district, my name’s and included in the district in the communities of Monterey Park and for the last two days, as you know, we have seen just uh tragic mass shooting take place in the city. Our very own city of Monterey Park trauma deep loss for many families that are suffering. We are all grieving, all of us are grieving and I continue to have the families of those who lost *** loved one. In my thoughts and in my prayers the chief medical examiner was able to identify two of those victims. You’ve heard some of that already from our sheriff, the 65 year old my neon and 64 year old Lillian. All of the county is with those that have lost their lives. First I’m grateful for the swift and united actions of our law enforcement partners, the Monterey Park Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Torrance Police Department, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies that assisted in keeping our public safe. Within *** day, they were able to identify and secure the shooter quickly without causing more harm to our community. And I’m also grateful to the medical personnel at L. ***. C. USC Medical Center and other nearby hospitals who can continuing to treat those who were injured. Unfortunately as we heard one person who was critically injured succumbed to injuries and passed away last night. We know that their path to healing physically and mentally may be long but they will not be alone in their journey. I’m coming directly from L. E. C. USC Medical Center where I visited with at least two of the survivors. One was going to be released today. Another one will be released in time but are both recuperating and you could see in their faces their spirit to fight and the fact that they are resolved that they are still here. They want to be with their families and they want to know what happened to the others on that on that night. I also visited earlier with some of the folks here, the lengthy senior center in Monterey Park to see what services are counting L. ***. County and the community are providing. And that is, I can tell you without *** doubt some of the best resources that I have seen united at every level federal level, state level, the county and the city and community groups of Red Cross including other organizations. My hat goes up to our days office as well who are doing all that he can to help provide services on site and on time. And to all of us are department of mental health uh physicians and psychiatrists are on hand and they are there able to speak different languages that are needed and provided for these families. And also they’re providing legal assistance is being offered there to the families which is much needed. I’ve also received. Uh, I’ve also seen the support that we’ve received from like chinatown service center and the sushi I uh center Red Cross and many others that were there as our law enforcement partners work diligently to determine the motive of the shooting and as details continue to emerge, we have learned that we have true heroes. And we heard about one earlier that the sheriff spoke about and I think that individual is *** hero for all of us, someone that put their own life at stake and actually prevented more deaths from *** crane is *** hero in my books. Thankfully members of our community also our men and women in uniform fought also to protect our community. So I personally want to thank them, had an opportunity to meet with some of the staff from Monterey Park Police Department who were there who are also going to need help. Also gonna need assistance. So we need to be there. It isn’t just *** one off that we’re gonna be here one day. The county will remain there for for *** long time and we continue to work with all of the families. I also want to say, I want to thank the governor of California Gavin Newsom last night was also here. He visited with one of the page. I believe that L. E. C. U. S. C. And also toured the Langley Center. He also is in strong support of whatever resources we need last night. I also had the privilege to receive *** call from our president President biden who asked me what was needed here and I told him we just need more reinforcements. We need more help. We need to stop this type of uh, violence in terms of guns and also to provide more assistance by way of mental health services, not just for the community and honorary park, but for the entire Ap I community and in particular some of our senior centers that service that community. So again I stand strong with you L. ***. County wars with you our community but we are here to serve. Thank you very much. I’m supervisor James Hahn. I am currently the chair of the Los Angeles County board of supervisors And I’m here today of course to provide support to my colleague supervisor Hilda police who had this track actually unfold in her district in Monterey Park. Sheriff luna, you’ve been in this office for less than two months and you already had to deal with the worst mass shooting in L. ***. County’s history watching you yesterday. I want to thank you for your grace and dignity and how you handled it also want to thank our governor uh, for reaching out and offering resources to us. Los Angeles County is in mourning As chair of the board of supervisors, I ordered our county flags to be lowered to half staff in honor of the victims of this tragedy. Certainly our prayers continue to be with the family members of those who were murdered. *** number that’s tragically increased this morning to 11 as well as all those who continue to suffer from their injuries. Thank you supervisor for taking the time to go and visit those in the hospital. I’m sure that meant so much to them and as our sheriff’s department continues their investigation and works to determine *** motive. I wanted to take the opportunity to recognize the good police work that that brought this terrifying situation to an end. Yesterday in the city of Torrance. As law enforcement conducted *** massive manhunt in the early hours of yesterday morning, the suspect was in Torrance, miles and miles away from the scene of *** crime in *** nondescript white van. But because L. ***. County Sheriff’s Department made sure that they got the information out to all law enforcement agencies in the county of Los Angeles Torrance Patrol officers were able to spot this ban and help bring this dangerous situation to an end. Thank you again for the idea of cooperation for the idea of sharing information among all agencies. Working together, collaborating together. We were able to in *** timely manner of bring this to an end those in my district in Torrance. Uh of course uh we’re anxious knowing that he, this gunman was at large all day. There’s *** large uh asian american community in Torrance and no one at that point understood what the motive was. So I really wanted to thank the Torrance Police department. I was with him yesterday. Uh They did good police work. So thank you again to everyone who brought this situation to an end. You know, it’s *** moment that was supposed to be *** moment of celebration, not only for the aid the community but familiar was the friends, family members of this community and one individual with guns tragedy. And I think it’s important that we reflect on what has occurred. I want to think first of all the family of the park community, the police department mayor, uh, city organizations and others that were not only very immediately before many of us were able to get there, but they have continued to bear the brunt of the work. Uh, I think it’s really and testament to the leadership in Monterey Park. I also want to thank our sheriff and the sheriff department and all the other, both local and state of federal agencies that work together uh, in order to make sure that we brought accountability to this case and stop reputation threat to our community so quickly and our supervisors, police who has been there with us from the very beginning, you know, the role of my office is is accomplished. One in this case is obviously had there been an arrest movement been engaging in the issue of, you know, looking for prosecution. But that being the case here, we play other roles. And we were there from very early on providing investigative support in order to make sure that if there were going to be *** prosecution, uh, that we would have the right information. We also provided legal assistance in order to ensure the search warrants were conducted uh, appropriately but more importantly our role knowledge one of dealing with the recovery and our victim services are mass casualty uh, impact team has been at Langley and in Monterey Park areas since yesterday. Uh, we have worked already with families trying to get them into service uh, and we will continue to do to do so for the weeks to come and will continue to work with communities in order to deal with the grieving and ensuring that all the resources that are available in our community and even outside the community will come to bear. This will be *** long haul for the victims to become families in the communities. And I want to make sure that we continue not only play, but for the weeks and months to come. We know that trauma, we know that the empire of trauma sometimes took place differently for issue to us. Some of us have immediately uh, the symptoms and deal with others and maybe weeks or month. And it’s important that we recognize that as *** community will continue to be there with you again. I want to thank all of our partners for this and show our commitment will continue to work with. Hello everybody. I just got released the Chief of Police Monterey Park P. D. Uh, I want to start off by talking about the partnership. You’ve heard *** lot of agencies listed today. There’s no way that my Police Department could have worked through this without the help of everybody you see behind me. Not just the partnerships locally and Countywide Federal, but the partnerships amongst all of the law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles County. Uh, I’m *** relatively new chief. I’ve been in an acting role for *** few months, but I was sworn in thursday night two days before this event. So it’s *** little bit of trial by fire for me. But I had *** lot of chiefs help out when I needed that assistance. My focus now as it has been from the beginning, is the safety of our community in Monterey Park. We have *** lot of events that come up in the next few weeks, one tonight, my officers are dedicated to make sure that everybody that comes to our city, All of the residents that want to come out and breathe are safe, we will be there, we will always be there and our diligence and our commitments in the community will never stop. I also want to talk *** little bit about the wellness of my officers. I had one of the youngest shifts that I have on the job there that night, my three young female police officers who had only been on the job less than *** year. They made entry into that building knowing what they were going to run into without any hesitation. So the moment the call came out to the moment they went through that door, we’re talking about minutes, they didn’t think about what they were going to encounter. All they thought about was getting in there and helping the people that needed help and stopping that, that gun. They’re feeling it today. I’ve sat down with each one of them and I guess kind of like that father figure that the chief becomes kind of wrap my arms around them, my whole department is collapsed onto them to make sure that they’re that they’re safe. And they understand how proud of them I am and how proud the department is at them. They want to stand that line. Uh they’re back on duty or they will be soon. But I need to make sure that my officers are safe and officer. Well, this is *** huge part of being *** police officer in today’s age. Officers get *** bad rap and I can tell you, I have 77 of the greatest human beings on the planet that work for me. They dedicate their lives to the city of Monterey Park and they will go into whatever danger they see in front of them to make sure our community is safe. We will continue to do that. And I love each one of them. At this point, I’m gonna open up to questions
For those who made their way to the Star Ballroom over the years, Ming Wei Ma was a bright light, always smiling and encouraging those who came to the Los Angeles area dance hall popular with older Asian Americans.Ma, 72, who managed the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, was identified Tuesday as one of the 11 people killed when a gunman opened fire Saturday night at the Monterey Park dance hall. The victims, who ranged in age from 57 to 76, had gathered there to celebrate the Lunar New Year.Siu Fong said she would sometimes lead karaoke outings for seniors there, where Ma would always say hello everyone.”He was a very, very kind person, very helpful,” Fong told The Associated Press on Monday night while at a vigil. “And he would go into my session and talk to the singers and greet them.”Dance instructor Walter Calderon, who has taught classes at the dance hall, remembered Ma as a “very nice guy who was always smiling.” Calderon said that Ma, who helped him with events he held at the studio, was also a talented dancer. Calderon said that while Ma didn’t speak much English, he conveyed a lot with his facial expressions.”He was a genuine, special person who was loved by all,” Calderon told The Associated Press.He said that when he’d run into Ma outside the dance hall, Ma would always offer him a cigarette.”I really liked the Chinese cigarettes he smoked, and asked him if he would buy me a pack,” Calderon said. “He had them for me the very next week.”Calderon, a native of the Philippines, said in Asian communities, dance halls play an important role in the lives of seniors who are looking for companionship and “something to do.”The women killed were: Diana Tom, 70; Muoi Ung, 67; My Nhan, 65; Lilian Li, 63; Hong Jian, 62; and Xiujuan Yu, 57, according to Los Angeles coroner’s office. In addition to Ma, listed by the coroner’s office as Ming Ma, the men killed were: Chia Yau, 76; Yu Kao, 72; Valentino Alvero, 68; and Wen Yu, 64. Nhan’s family, who called her Mymy, said she had been a regular at the Star Ballroom for over a decade and recalled her smile, kindness and love for her nieces and nephews. Alvero’s family said he was a dedicated family man who loved ballroom dancing and was “the life of any party.”The massacre was the nation’s fifth mass killing this month, and it struck one of California’s largest celebrations of a holiday observed in many Asian cultures. Asian Americans around the U.S. have been the target of high-profile violence in recent years.Sheriff Robert Luna called the gunman, 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, a “mad man” and said investigators were looking into whether he had relationships with the people who were shot at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio.Tran, who may have had a history of visiting the dance hall, entered another nearby ballroom about 20 minutes after the first attack but was disarmed before anyone was shot and fled. He shot and killed himself Sunday.Ma told The Pasadena Star-News for a 2016 story that he wanted to make the ballroom a place where different cultures could come together through dance.”I want to provide an active place for the Asian community of Monterey Park to help prolong their life and improve their health,” Ma told the newspaper. “Having a place where people from all over the world can come together and communicate through dance is how I can help.”___Bharath contributed to this report from Los Angeles and Stengle contributed from Dallas.
For those who made their way to the Star Ballroom over the years, Ming Wei Ma was a bright light, always smiling and encouraging those who came to the Los Angeles area dance hall popular with older Asian Americans.
Ma, 72, who managed the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, was identified Tuesday as one of the 11 people killed when a gunman opened fire Saturday night at the Monterey Park dance hall. The victims, who ranged in age from 57 to 76, had gathered there to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
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Siu Fong said she would sometimes lead karaoke outings for seniors there, where Ma would always say hello everyone.
“He was a very, very kind person, very helpful,” Fong told The Associated Press on Monday night while at a vigil. “And he would go into my session and talk to the singers and greet them.”
Dance instructor Walter Calderon, who has taught classes at the dance hall, remembered Ma as a “very nice guy who was always smiling.” Calderon said that Ma, who helped him with events he held at the studio, was also a talented dancer.
Calderon said that while Ma didn’t speak much English, he conveyed a lot with his facial expressions.
“He was a genuine, special person who was loved by all,” Calderon told The Associated Press.
He said that when he’d run into Ma outside the dance hall, Ma would always offer him a cigarette.
“I really liked the Chinese cigarettes he smoked, and asked him if he would buy me a pack,” Calderon said. “He had them for me the very next week.”
Calderon, a native of the Philippines, said in Asian communities, dance halls play an important role in the lives of seniors who are looking for companionship and “something to do.”
The women killed were: Diana Tom, 70; Muoi Ung, 67; My Nhan, 65; Lilian Li, 63; Hong Jian, 62; and Xiujuan Yu, 57, according to Los Angeles coroner’s office. In addition to Ma, listed by the coroner’s office as Ming Ma, the men killed were: Chia Yau, 76; Yu Kao, 72; Valentino Alvero, 68; and Wen Yu, 64.
Nhan’s family, who called her Mymy, said she had been a regular at the Star Ballroom for over a decade and recalled her smile, kindness and love for her nieces and nephews. Alvero’s family said he was a dedicated family man who loved ballroom dancing and was “the life of any party.”
The massacre was the nation’s fifth mass killing this month, and it struck one of California’s largest celebrations of a holiday observed in many Asian cultures. Asian Americans around the U.S. have been the target of high-profile violence in recent years.
Sheriff Robert Luna called the gunman, 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, a “mad man” and said investigators were looking into whether he had relationships with the people who were shot at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio.
Tran, who may have had a history of visiting the dance hall, entered another nearby ballroom about 20 minutes after the first attack but was disarmed before anyone was shot and fled. He shot and killed himself Sunday.
Ma told The Pasadena Star-News for a 2016 story that he wanted to make the ballroom a place where different cultures could come together through dance.
“I want to provide an active place for the Asian community of Monterey Park to help prolong their life and improve their health,” Ma told the newspaper. “Having a place where people from all over the world can come together and communicate through dance is how I can help.”
___
Bharath contributed to this report from Los Angeles and Stengle contributed from Dallas.