Isai RochaAfter an hours-long manhunt, the suspect in the Monterey Park mass shooting was found dead inside a van parked near the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance at apprximately 12:52 p.m., Sunday.
Using information from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. (LASD), Torrance PD was able to identify the white van in the city, leading to Los Angeles SWAT approaching the vehicle and removing the suspect.
“There’s going to be more information that we’ll be putting out about the specifics,” Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna said in a press conference. “But right now, I’m here to report that the suspect responsible for this tragedy is no longer a threat.”
The suspect was identified by Luna as Huu Can Tran, and according to Torrance officers who first approached the van, a gunshot went off inside the vehicle, leading them to retreat and ask for “tactical help.”
After Tran was pronounced dead, the vehicle was searched, where “several pieces of evidence” were found, connecting him to not only the Monterey Park dance studio shooting, but also an incident in neighboring Alhambra, where two citizens reportedly forcefully took a weapon from Tran as he attempted to enter another dance studio.
The Alhambra incident is where investigators where able to identify Tran fleeing in the white van and eventually connecting him to the Monterey Park shooting.
As of this writing, the resulting death count from the shooting was 10, with 10 others wounded and six still hospitalized, according to Sheriff Luna. Luna did not want to fully disclose where the victims were being treated, as threatening phone calls were made to the USC Trauma Center earlier in the day after the county had revealed a number of the victims being treated there.
Luna said that a motive has not been established as the shooting investigation continues.
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