On January 21, 2023, Mymy Nhan, a 65-year-old resident of Monterey Park, California, was tragically killed in a mass shooting at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio. A regular patron for over a decade, Nhan was known for her love of dance and often spent her weekends at the studio. That evening, she was leaving the ballroom with her dance partner to prepare a Lunar New Year shrine for her ancestors when the shooter arrived and fired into their car, making her the first victim of the attack.
The assailant, identified as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, entered the Star Ballroom Dance Studio around 10:22 p.m. and opened fire, resulting in the deaths of eleven individuals and injuries to nine others. Following the attack in Monterey Park, Tran proceeded to the Lai Lai Ballroom in nearby Alhambra, where he was disarmed by staff before fleeing the scene. The next day, Tran was located in a van in Torrance, California, where he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a standoff with police.
Investigations into Tran's background revealed that he had previously frequented both the Star Ballroom and Lai Lai dance studios, sometimes volunteering as a dance instructor. However, he had not visited the Star Ballroom in at least five years and did not appear to be targeting specific individuals during the attack. Authorities found no known connection between Tran and his victims, and his motive remains unknown. A search of his residence uncovered a .308 caliber rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and evidence suggesting he was manufacturing firearm suppressors.
Mymy Nhan's family expressed their profound grief, stating, "We are starting the Lunar New Year broken. We never imagined her life would end so suddenly." They remembered her as a loving aunt, sister, daughter, and friend, whose passion for dance brought joy to those around her.
