The man who disarmed the Monterey Park shooter when he arrived at a second ballroom is speaking out about his experience.
Just 15-20 minutes after he allegedly shot and killed several people at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, authorities say 72-year-old Huu Can Tran arrived at the Lai Lai Ballroom two miles north. When he arrived, Brandon Tsay, who runs the ballroom with his family, and a few other people were still on the dance floor, The New York Times reports.
Tsay heard the doors open and a clanging sound rang out. He turned around to find himself face-to-face with a semi-automatic weapon.
“My heart sank, I knew I was going to die,” he told The New York Times.
According to ABC Good Morning, Tsay says Tran was looking around the room for targets. Tsay decided to act when he saw Tran preparing the weapon.
“When I got the courage, I lunged at him with both my hands, grabbed the weapon and we had a struggle,” he told ABC Good Morning. “We struggled into the lobby, trying to get this gun away from each other. He was hitting me across the face, bashing the back of my head.”
Eventually, Tsay wrestled the gun away from the suspect and told him to leave the building.
“I thought he would run away, but he was just standing there contemplating whether to fight or to run,” Tsay told ABC Good Morning. “I really thought I would have to shoot him and he came at me. This is when he turned around and walked out the door, jogged back to his van. I immediately called police with the gun still in my hand.”
Tsay added that he feels heartbroken for the Monterey Park community.
“In crises like this, the people need courage, especially the victims, their friends, their families,” he told ABC Good Morning. “My heart goes out to everybody involved, especially the people in Star Dance Studio and Monterey Park. I hope they can find the courage and the strength to persevere.”
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This young man is a true hero-citizen if ever there was one. What an example of selflessness and bravery in the face of sheer evil.