Community members commemorate Monterey Park mass shooting

Catch up: Eleven people died and nine others were injured after Huu Can Tran, 72, opened fire at Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, California, on Jan. 21, 2023. He subsequently traveled to Lai Lai Ballroom & Studio in nearby Alhambra. There, operator Brandon Tsay wrestled the gun away from him before he could harm others. He was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Remembering the tragedy: Community members held the Community Remembrance Fair at Lai Lai on Saturday, with Tsay serving as a presenter. Over 100 people reportedly attended.

A candlelight vigil will be held outside Monterey Park City Hall on Sunday, Jan. 21. Earlier in the day, the city government will host a private “Roundtable on Hope and Healing,” which will be attended by community leaders and advocates to discuss strategies to prevent similar tragedies.

What Tsay is saying: Tsay has been hailed a hero and was recognized at the previous State of the Union for his actions. Speaking to KABC, he said Saturday’s event celebrated “how our community has bonded back together again to really confide in each other our struggles and hardships.”

Tsay told NBCLA that he had contemplated on shutting down the ballroom studio — a family business for three generations — but the public’s optimism and encouragement persuaded him to keep its lights on. He has partnered with the Asian Pacific Unity Fund to create the Brandon Tsay Hero Fund, which “deals with mental health resources and the relationship to the community.”