On January 21, 2023, 76-year-old Chia Ling "Charlie" Yau was among the victims of a tragic mass shooting at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, California. The incident occurred around 10:22 p.m. during a Lunar New Year celebration, resulting in the deaths of eleven individuals and injuries to nine others.
Yau, affectionately known as Charlie, was a caring father, uncle, brother, and friend.
He had a deep passion for music, dance, and travel, often expressing gratitude for life and sharing the lessons he learned. His family remembers him as a happy, fun-loving individual who believed in living life to the fullest.
The perpetrator of the shooting was identified as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran. After the attack at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, Tran proceeded to the Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio in nearby Alhambra, where he was disarmed by a bystander, preventing further violence. Tran fled the scene and was later found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Torrance, California, as law enforcement closed in on his vehicle.
Investigators have been working to determine the motive behind the attack. As of now, no clear ties have been established between Tran and the victims, and authorities have not identified any specific motive for the shooting. The investigation is ongoing as officials continue to search for answers to this senseless act of violence.
