The senseless shootings that have seeped into a state known for its flashy environment and diversity has shocked not only the state itself but also a nation.
In the wake of the Lunar New Year, a mass shooting in Monterrey Park saw 11 people killed and 9 injured. The suspect, who was later identified as Huu Can Tran, had seemingly done these deranged acts for no apparent reason other than the fact that he wanted to strike fear in a ballroom dance studio that he had frequented over the last decade.
Tran opened fire in the Star Ballroom late at night last Saturday before abruptly switching locations, attempting to hit another studio. Before he could strike again though, he was disarmed and forced to flee the area. Early the next day, Tran was caught in a standstill, surrounded by dozens of policemen. Without many options left, Tran would end his life by a self-inflicted wound.
A community and state still grieving would be jolted just days later when another mass shooting occurred, this time with seven people dead and one injured. The assailant, 66-year-old Chunli Zhao, was dramatically arrested and currently faces seven counts of murder and one count of attempted murder along with others.
ABC News reported that there have been six mass shootings in the last two weeks alone in the state of California, a devastating statistic that speaks levels about the numbness that America treats gun violence. Marred with a plethora of deaths and violence, America must stop this now by taking legislative action.
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/23/us/huu-can-tran-monterey-park-shooting-what-we-know/index.html
https://abcnews.go.com/US/6th-mass-shooting-13-days-rocks-california/story?id=96749605
https://apnews.com/article/politics-shootings-texas-colorado-045c6a88439907da9895af0ceb0e9404
Image Credits: Jae C. Hong/AP
