‘Last dance’: Those slain in California shooting remembered

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. — (AP) — Mymy Nhan was an everyday on the Star Ballroom for greater than a decade, selecting the Los Angeles-area dance corridor common with older Asian People because the place to “begin the yr contemporary” with Lunar New 12 months celebrations, her niece stated Monday.

Her household now takes some solace understanding that Nhan, considered one of 11 folks shot and killed in Monterey Park by a gunman Saturday night time, died after a night of doing what she beloved.

“It’s comforting to know that she loved her final dance, despite the fact that it was her final dance,” stated her niece, Fonda Quan.

The Los Angeles County coroner’s workplace recognized Nhan, known as My Nhan, as one of many victims on Monday. The workplace additionally recognized three different victims: Valentino Alvero, a 68-year-old man; Lilan Li, a 63-year-old lady; and Xiujuan Yu, a 57-year-old lady. The dying toll rose to 11 on Monday after one of many individuals who was wounded died. The victims had been of their 50s, 60s and 70s.

The bloodbath was the nation’s fifth mass killing this month, and it struck considered one of California’s largest celebrations of a vacation noticed in lots of Asian cultures. Asian People across the U.S. have been the goal of high-profile violence in recent times.

Officers haven’t given a motive for the capturing however stated the suspect, Huu Can Tran, a 72-year-old Asian man, could have had a historical past of visiting the dance corridor. About 20 minutes after the primary assault, he entered the Lai Lai Ballroom within the close by metropolis of Alhambra. He was disarmed earlier than anybody was shot, after which he fled the scene. He shot and killed himself Sunday.

Quan stated that her aunt had left the Star Ballroom and was backing her automobile out when she was shot. Quan stated a dance companion who was within the automobile together with her was not injured. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated on Monday that one particular person was shot exterior the ballroom in a car, doubtless earlier than Tran entered the constructing.

Nhan, 65, was an everyday at each of the dance halls Tran focused. The spots had been common locations for older Asian People to socialize and dance. It was the place Nhan selected to have a good time the brand new yr, which got here three weeks after the passing of her mom.

Nhan, who had been her mom’s caretaker, was able to “begin the yr contemporary” and to have a good time with buddies, Quan stated.

She immigrated from Vietnam within the Nineteen Eighties and ended up making the San Gabriel Valley her residence, dwelling locally of Rosemead. Quan stated she didn’t know precisely how her aunt received into ballroom dance, however she thinks it had one thing to do with the enjoyable frocks she received to put on.

“What I do know is she is she’s all the time been actually into vogue,” Quan stated. “And I believe these stunning clothes include ballroom dancing. I assume that most likely has some connection.”

Quan stated she by no means heard her aunt speak in regards to the gunman. Whereas the household feels considerably settled understanding he’s useless, they need solutions about his motives, she stated.

“I hope that no matter we discover, no matter we study, it’s a lesson that’s discovered by everybody to simply perceive, like, you understand, what can we do higher to stop this from taking place sooner or later?” Quan stated.

Tiffany Liou, a reporter with WFAA tv station in Dallas, stated on Twitter that Nhan, her husband’s aunt, handled her nieces and nephews “like her personal children.”

“Her kindness is what’s wanted on this world,” Liou wrote.

An announcement from Nhan’s household posted by Liou on Twitter stated: “For those who knew her, you knew her heat smile and kindness was contagious. She was a loving aunt, sister, daughter and good friend. Mymy was our greatest cheerleader.”

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Stengle contributed from Dallas. Researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York additionally contributed to this report.

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