21st Century

–8 ABC News. “8 killed after car plows into 18 pedestrians in Brownsville, Texas…” 5-9-2023.
–8 CNN. “Driver in fatal crash outside Texas migrant shelter charged with 8 counts of manslaughter…” 5-8-2023.

Narrative Information

May 8, ABC News: “A driver is facing manslaughter charges after he allegedly plowed his car into 18 pedestrians at a Brownsville, Texas, bus stop [outside a migrant shelter], killing eight and injuring 10 others. The crash occurred at 8:29 a.m. Sunday near the Ozanam Center, according to Brownsville police. Some of the victims struck by the gray Range Rover were migrants under the care of Border Patrol, according to Brownsville police spokesman Martin Sandoval. Some were from Venezuela and all of the victims were males, Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda said.

“The SUV ran a red light, lost control and flipped on its side, Sauceda said at a news conference Monday. The driver, 34-year-old George Alvarez, allegedly tried to flee the scene but was stopped by others, the chief said. Alvarez, who has an “extensive rap sheet,” is in custody on charges including eight counts of manslaughter, Sauceda said. Alvarez appeared in court Monday; bond was set at a total of $3.6 million.

“The FBI is working to determine if the crash was an intentional act and, if so, whether there was a domestic violent extremist motive behind it, law enforcement sources told ABC News on Sunday. The FBI is supporting local and state investigators, and is not the lead agency in the investigation…. Federal and local investigators have scrubbed through the suspect’s social media and say it has “come back clean,” according to sources….”

[A “George Alvarez Criminal History” poster is shown in the article. It includes:

2 Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon
1 Assault against Elderly or Disabled
4 Assault Causing Bodily Injury to a Family Member
1 Assault of Public Servant
2 Burglary of a vehicle
1 Assault Causing Bodily Injury
2 Criminal Mischief
1 Driving While Intoxicated
1 Evading Arrest Cetention
1 Interference with Public Duties
1 Obstruction or Retaliation
1 Possession of Marijuana <2oz 3 Resisting Arrest Search or Transport 1 Theft of Property >$50 <$500.” (ABC News. “8 killed after car plows into 18 pedestrians in Brownsville, Texas; alleged driver charged.” 5-9-2023.) May 8, CNN: “The man who drove a vehicle into a group of people near a migrant shelter in Brownsville, Texas, on Sunday, killing eight and injuring 10 more, has been charged with eight counts of manslaughter, Brownsville Police chief Felix Sauceda said Monday… as well as 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and his bond was set at $3.6 million, the chief said. Police said they are still investigating the cause of the crash….” (CNN. “Driver in fatal crash outside Texas migrant shelter charged with 8 counts of manslaughter…” 5-8-2023.) May 15, KHOU 11, Houston: “Brownsville, Texas – New details on a crash in Brownsville that killed eight people and injured 10 more have been revealed in an arrest warrant. The warrant states that George Alvarez, 34, was "obviously intoxicated" when his SUB plowed through a group of 18 migrants outside of a shelter. He also told officers that the migrants got in his way, according to the warrant. The details were revealed as Brownsville police continue to investigate if the crash was intentional. “Three survivors returned home last week while others were still being treated at the hospital. All of the victims were men that appeared to be from Venezuela, according to investigators. “Authorities said Alvarez is a Brownsville native with a lengthy criminal history. Video from the crash scene showed witnesses holding down Alvarez after they said he tried to run before police showed up. “Authorities also said Brownsville has been a hotspot for Venezuelan migrants over the last few weeks. More than 66% of the migrants in custody were from Venezuela, and the surge in migrants led to an extension in the city's declaration of emergency. “Alvarez was held in jail on a $3.6 million bond.” (KHOU 11, Houston, TX. “‘Got in my way’ – New details about the man accused of killing 8 people in Brownsville.” 5-15-2023.) Sources ABC News. “8 killed after car plows into 18 pedestrians in Brownsville, Texas; alleged driver charged.” 5-9-2023. Accessed 5-8-2023 at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/7-dead-after-car-runs-pedestrians-brownsville-texas/story?id=99152817 CNN. “Driver in fatal crash outside Texas migrant shelter charged with 8 counts of manslaughter, police say.” 5-8-2023. Accessed 5-11-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/08/us/brownsville-texas-car-crash-monday/index.html KHOU 11, Houston, TX. “‘Got in my way’ – New details about the man accused of killing 8 people in Brownsville.” 5-15-2023. Accessed 5-18-2023 at: https://www.khou.com/article/news/crime/texas-border-crash-update/285-d47c0088-b678-4e78-a8f3-6fa5893ec714

–9 CNN. “At least 8 killed, 7 wounded in shooting at Texas outlet mall.” 5-7-2023.
–9 Dallas Morning News. “Here’s everything we know…about the Allen mall shooting.” 5-10-2023.
–9 NBC News. “What we know about the slain Texas mall massacre suspect.” 5-7-2023.
–9 NYT. “At Least 9 Dead, Including Gunman, in Shooting at Texas Mall.” 5-7-2023.

Narrative Information

May 7, CNN: “Eight people were killed and at least seven others wounded when a gunman opened fire at an Allen, Texas, outlet mall Saturday afternoon, according to local officials. The gunman was tracked down and killed b a police officer who was already at the mall for another call, the city’s police chief said.

“The shooter has been identified as a 33-year-old man, a law enforcement source tells CNN. In addition to an AR-15 style rifle, he had at least one other weapon on his person, and more in his car, according to the source.

“Victims in the attack range in age from 5 to 61 years old. Several remain hospitalized in the Dallas area.

“Mauricio Garcia — the 33-year-old who has been identified as the gunman in the Allen, Texas, outlet mall shooting, according to a senior law enforcement source — received firearms training for part of his work as a security officer, according to an official database.

“Garcia was approved to work as a commissioned security guard in Texas from April 2016 until April 2020, when his license expired, according to the Texas Online Private Security database, maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety. His profile shows he worked for at least three security companies. None of those companies immediately responded to requests for comment. According to the database, Garcia received Level II and Level III security training. The former covers security laws in Texas; the latter, which is required for all commissioned security officers in Texas, includes firearm training and the demonstration of firearm proficiency, according to Jonah Nathan, vice president of Ranger Guard, a security guard service in Texas not affiliated with Garcia’s employers. n 2018, Garcia also completed a separate firearms proficiency training course, which requires six hours of continuing education, according to the Texas DPS database.

“Private security guards in Texas undergo background checks and are disqualified if they have committed certain crimes, such as assault, burglary or sexual offenses, among others, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety website and state codes. They are also disqualified if they have been dishonorably discharged from the US military; have been found incompetent by a court of law; or have been required to register as a sex offender. It’s unclear why Garcia’s license expired.

“A police officer killed the gunman outside the outlet mall after he carried out the massacre Saturday, according to the Allen police chief. The shooting left at least eight people dead and seven others wounded….” (CNN. “At least 8 killed, 7 wounded in shooting at Texas outlet mall.” 5-7-2023.)

May 7, NBC News: “Dallas, Texas – The gunman who killed at least eight people and wounded a half-dozen more at a Dallas-area outlet mall was identified Sunday as a 33-year-old suspected neo-Nazi sympathizer named Mauricio Garcia, two senior law enforcement officials told NBC News. Garcia was killed after the outbreak of deadly violence Saturday by a police officer who happened to be at the Allen Premium Outlets, some 25 miles north of Dallas, police said.

“Garcia, who lived in Dallas, had a tactical vest and was armed with a rifle of some kind as well as a handgun, one of the senior law enforcement officials said. ore weapons and ammunition was found in his car, the source said. Also, the law enforcement officials said, Garcia had several social media accounts and appeared to be drawn to neo-Nazi and white supremacist content. He was also wearing, when he was killed, a patch on his chest with a right-wing acronym….” (NBC News. “What we know about the slain Texas mall massacre suspect.” 5-7-2023.)

May 10, Dallas News: “Four days have passed since a gunman opened fire at an outdoor mall in Allen, Texas. Eight people were killed. Seven were wounded.

“Over 1,000 people found themselves at or near the mall when the shooting took place, many eventually being escorted away from the property by law enforcement and having to return later to retrieve their vehicles.

“Here’s everything we know — and everything we don’t — about the attack:

“The eight were identified as:

Cho Kyu Song, 37;
Kang Shin Young, 35;
James Cho, 3;
Daniela Mendoza, 11;
Sofia Mendoza, 8;
Christian LaCour, 20;
Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32; and
Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26.

“Law enforcement Tuesday credited LaCour, a mall security guard, for escorting one person to safety before he was killed trying to help others.

“What we don’t know: The names of the wounded victims have not been released by officials. As of Wednesday morning, one patient is in critical condition, two are in fair condition and three are in good condition, according to Medical City Healthcare….

“The shooter, who was killed at the scene by an Allen police officer, was identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia. He was terminated from the U.S. Army in 2008 and did not complete initial training, officials said, but was not on law enforcement radar before the shooting. Social media posts, apparently linked to the shooter, espoused an obsession with violence and extremist ideology….

“Officials said Tuesday they have not determined the gunman’s motive, which is the focus of the investigation….

“The attack lasted 3-4 minutes….

“Video footage taken from an in-car dashboard camera shows the gunman exiting a vehicle in the parking lot of the mall. Leaving the driver door open, the gunman began shooting at shoppers in view.

“The gunman brought eight weapons to the scene, and all of them were purchased legally, officials said Tuesday. Authorities found three weapons on the gunman and five in his vehicle….The gunman…posted photographs of a Glock 48 semi-automatic handgun and a Benelli M4 semi-automatic shotgun as well as multiple boxes of ammunition. His apparent posts on a Russian social media platform showed his desire to buy certain guns, including an AK-47-style assault rifle.

“An owner for an Arizona-based body armor manufacturer, Spartan Armor System, told The News that Garcia purchased several items in 2020 including a steel armored plate. The gunman posted a photo of the sales receipt, which indicates his order included ‘trauma pads’ and ‘side plates.’ Garcia also bought items at GT distributors, a gun and tactical gear store in northeast Dallas, and he ordered a rare rifle and two handguns from a Garland gun store. The owner of the store, Targetmaster, said the guns were on back order and difficult to get and after two years of waiting, Garcia requested the return of his deposit.

“…While we have evidence of the type of guns Garcia had purchased, authorities have not identified those used in the shooting or how he acquired them — whether he bought them online, at a gun show or from a licensed firearms dealer.” (Dallas Morning News. “Here’s everything we know – and everything we don’t – about the Allen mall shooting.” 5-10-2023.)

Sources

CNN. “At least 8 killed, 7 wounded in shooting at Texas outlet mall.” 5-7-2023. Accessed 5-7-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/allen-texas-mall-shooting-news-05-07-23/index.html

Dallas Morning News. “Here’s everything we know – and everything we don’t – about the Allen mall shooting.” 5-10-2023. Accessed 5-11-2023 at: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2023/05/10/heres-everything-we-know-and-everything-we-dont-about-the-allen-mall-shooting/

NBC News. “What we know about the slain Texas mall massacre suspect.” 5-7-2023. Accessed 5-7-2023 at: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mauricio-garcia-allen-texas-mall-shooting-suspect-what-know-rcna83242

New York Times. “At Least 9 Dead, Including Gunman, in Shooting at Texas Mall.” 5-7-2023. Accessed 5-7-2023 at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/06/us/allen-mall-texas-shooting.html

–6 NBC News. “6 dead, dozens hospitalized after blinding dust storm in Illinois…pileups.” 5-1-2023.
–6 NBC 5 Chicago. “‘Beyond Unreal’: Cleanup Continues After Dust Storm…” 5-2-2023.

Narrative Information

May 1, NBC News: “Six people were confirmed dead in a series of highway collisions Monday in rural Illinois that were blamed on a blinding dust storm, authorities said. More than 30 people, ages 2 to 80, were hospitalized with injuries from minor to life-threatening, Illinois State Police Maj. Ryan Starrick said at an early evening news conference.

“The collisions, which involved as many as 90 vehicles on Interstate 55 north of Farmersville just before 11 a.m., included separate pileups on the northbound and southbound sides, state police said. “The cause of the crash is due to excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway leading to zero visibility,” Starrick said. Involved in the collisions were two big rigs that had been on fire, roughly 28 other commercial vehicles and as many as 60 passenger vehicles, Starrick said.

“The first pileup was reported on the northbound side of the interstate, which runs through farm country. Starrick said topsoil and dust from the farms were blown across the roadway. “This is not uncommon,” Starrick said. “This has happened before in various parts of the state of Illinois.” However, he said, the number of vehicles and casualties was unusual. A Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency official said at the news conference that it was difficult to reach the injured because some vehicles were on fire when first responders arrived.

“The National Weather Service on Monday forecast “widespread blowing dust,” with gusts of 34 mph possible, for the Farmersville area. Winds were out of the northwest, federal forecasters said.

“State police said visibility continued to be low. The interstate was closed in both directions north of Farmersville, a small village along a defunct stretch of Route 66, as investigators tried to reconstruct some of the timeline and conduct a secondary search for victims….” (NBC News (Dennis Romero) “6 dead, dozens hospitalized after blinding dust storm in Illinois caused multiple highway pileups.” 5-1-2023.)

May 2, NBC 5 Chicago: “Interstate 55 in South-Central Illinois remains closed and a massive clean-up is still underway after a rare dust storm Monday caused a horrific and deadly chain reaction of more than 70 cars and semi-trucks. According to officials, 72 vehicles were involved in the pile-up, which took place Monday morning on two mile stretch of I-55 between Divernon and Farmersville in downstate Illinois.

“Six people were killed in the crash, and more than 30 others were injured. According to the Illinois State Police, one of the victims killed has been identified as Shirley Harper, 88, of Franklin, Wisconsin. In an update Tuesday, the ISP said the Montgomery County Coroner’s office is “working diligently to identify the five other individuals killed in the crash and notify their families.”…” (NBC 5 Chicago. “‘Beyond Unreal’: Cleanup Continues After Dust Storm Causes Deadly Chain Reaction on I-55.” 5-2-2023.)

Sources

NBC News (Dennis Romero) “6 dead, dozens hospitalized after blinding dust storm in Illinois caused multiple highway pileups.” 5-1-2023. Accessed 5-1-2023 at: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/blinding-dust-storm-illinois-leads-multiple-fatalities-dozens-hospital-rcna82327

NBC 5 Chicago. “‘Beyond Unreal’: Cleanup Continues After Dust Storm Causes Deadly Chain Reaction on I-55.” 5-2-2023. Accessed 5-3-2023 at: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/illinois-dust-storm-crash-divernon-farmsville-cleanup-i-55-closed/3131813/

–5 CNN. “Louisville shooter left notes revealing part of his goal was to show how easily a
mentally ill person can buy a gun in the US, sources say.” 4-20-2023.
–5 CNN. “The latest on the Louisville bank shooting.” 4-11-2023.
–5 USA Today. “Louisville shooter left a note, was suicidal before killing 5 at bank: What we
know about gunman, motive.” 4-10-2023, updated 4-11-2023.

Narrative Information

April 11, CNN: “Police continue to investigate what led up to a mass shooting at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, that left at least five people dead and multiple others injured, including a police officer [Nickolas Wilt] who is still in critical condition. Police have released bodycam footage showing the police confrontation with the gunman [Connor Sturgeon, 25 in the bank.

“The shooter, identified as a 25-year-old male bank employee, was live streaming the attack online and was killed in a police shootout, officials said. Police said they will release body camera footage of the shooting this afternoon.

“Police said the shooter used an AR-15-style weapon that was purchased locally and legally six days ago. The AR-15 and its offshoots have been used in several recent mass shootings, including the Nashville shooting just two weeks ago….

“Timeline: The entire incident lasted about 9 minutes, Louisville Metro Police Department Lt. Col. Aaron Crowell said. The shooting began just after 8:30 a.m. — about 30 minutes before the bank opens to the public, police said. It happened during a morning employee meeting, with some appearing in person and others virtually, according to a manager at the bank. The shooter fired his weapon for about a minute and then appeared to wait a minute and a half before police arrived, according to a city official. When officers got there, they shot and killed the gunman, said Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, the interim chief of the Louisville Metro Police Department….

“Dispatcher audio: A Louisville Metro Police dispatcher said in an audio that the gunman had left a voicemail saying he was going to kill everyone at the bank. “He’s texted a friend, called a friend, left a voicemail saying he’s gonna kill everyone at the bank. Feeling suicidal,” the dispatcher said, according to Broadcastify audio.

“Victims: The five victims were identified as Joshua Barrick, 40; Juliana Farmer, 45; Tommy Elliott, 63; James Tutt, 64, and Deana Eckert, 57.

“Hospital response: Dr. Jason Smith, the chief medical officer, said his hospital used 170 units of blood on Monday to treat victims from the bank shooting. He credited the Red Cross and blood donations with saving lives….

“The Louisville Metro Police Department has opened two separate investigations following Monday’s shooting at Old National Bank — one under the purview of homicide and another under the scope of its Public Integrity Unit, a police official said….

“How the events unfolded: The shooting began around 8:30 a.m. ET, police said, about 30 minutes before the bank opens to the public. Bank staff were holding their morning meeting in a conference room when the shooter opened fire, bank manager Rebecca Buchheit-Sims said….”
(CNN. “The latest on the Louisville bank shooting.” 4-11-2023.)

April 11, USA Today: “According to his LinkedIn profile, which was taken down after the shooting, Sturgeon was a summer intern at the bank starting in 2018, and graduated from the University of Alabama, where he got both bachelor’s and master’s degrees by the end of 2020….

“He started working fulltime for Old National Bank in June 2021, and was most recently a syndications associate and portfolio banker, according to his LinkedIn profile….

“Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg…. told reporters Tuesday he was not aware of Sturgeon being given any notice of potentially being fired ahead of the shooting.

“…in a 2018 college essay at the University of Alabama, Sturgeon wrote, “My self-esteem has long been a problem for me” and as a “late bloomer in middle and high school, I struggled to a certain extent to fit in, and this has given me a somewhat negative self-image that persists today.”

April 20, CNN: “(CNN) The shooter who killed five co-workers at a Louisville, Kentucky, bank this month left two very extensive notes – one in his home and one found on him after police killed him in a shootout, according to two law enforcement sources. The notes reveal that part of the shooter’s goal was to show how easy it was in America for someone dealing with a serious mental illness to buy an assault-style weapon, the sources said. The gunman purchased the AR-15-style rifle seven days before the April 10 shooting and under Kentucky law he was only required to fill out a form for the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and to undergo an FBI records check to ensure he was not a felon or the subject of a court-imposed restraining order….” (USA Today. “Louisville shooter left a note, was suicidal before killing 5 at bank: What we know about gunman, motive.” 4-10-2023, updated 4-11-2023.

Sources

CNN. “Louisville shooter left notes revealing part of his goal was to show how easily a mentally ill person can buy a gun in the US, sources say.” 4-20-2023. Accessed 4-25-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/20/us/louisville-kentucky-bank-mass-shooting-shooter-writings/index.html

CNN. “The latest on the Louisville bank shooting.” 4-11-2023. Accessed 4-11-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/louisville-kentucky-shooting-04-11-23/index.html

USA Today. “Louisville shooter left a note, was suicidal before killing 5 at bank: What we know about gunman, motive.” 4-10-2023, updated 4-11-2023. Accessed 4-11-2023 at: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/04/10/who-is-louisville-bank-shooter-motive/11634817002/

— 32 CNN. “Death toll rises to 32 after tornadoes rip through South and Midwest…” 4-2-2023.
–>27 NYT. “At Least 27 Killed as Tornadoes Tear Through the Midwest and South.” 4-2-2023.
–>21 ABC News. “Tornado updates: At least 21 dead, dozens injured across 6 states.” 4-1-2023.
–>21 CBS News/AP. “Tornadoes strike Arkansas, Illinois, Tennessee; at least 21 dead…” 4-1-2023.

Alabama ( 1)
–1 ABC News. “Tornado updates: At least 21 dead, dozens injured across 6 states.” 4-1-2023.
–1 Huntsville area. Tornado destroyed home with woman inside; Ovie Lasater, 90.

Arkansas ( 5)
–5 ABC News. “Tornado updates: At least 21 dead, dozens injured across 6 states.” 4-1-2023.
–1 North Little Rock, Pulaski County. CBS News/AP. “Tornadoes strike [AR, IL, TN]…” 4-1-2023.
–4 Wynne, Cross County. ABC News. “Tornado updates: At least 21 dead…” 4-1-2023.

Delaware ( 1)
–1 Greenwood area, Sussex County, April 1. Collapsed structure.
NYT. “At Least 27 Killed as Tornadoes Tear Through the Midwest and South.” 4-2-2023.

Illinois ( 4)
–4 ABC News. “Tornado updates: At least 21 dead, dozens injured across 6 states.” 4-1-2023.
–1 Belvidere. Tornado; Apollo Theatre roof collapsed; male, 50.
–3 Crawford County. Residential structure collapsed.

Indiana ( 5)
–5 CNN. “Death toll rises to 32 after tornadoes rip through South and Midwest…” 4-2-2023.
–2 McCormick’s Creek State Park campground, Owen Co. Brett Kincaid, 53, Wendy Kincaid, 47.
–3 Sullivan County. CBS News/AP. “Tornadoes strike [AR, IL, TN]…” 4-1-2023.

Mississippi ( 1)
–1 Pontotoc County. CBS News/AP. “Tornadoes strike [AR, IL, TN]…” 4-1-2023.

Tennessee (15)
–15 CNN. “Death toll rises to 32 after tornadoes rip through South and Midwest…” 4-2-2023.
— 9 McNairy Co. NYT. “At Least 27 Killed as Tornadoes Tear Through the Midwest and South.” 4-2-2023.
— 3 Memphis. CNN. “Death toll rises to 32 after tornadoes rip through South…Midwest…” 4-2-2023.
— 1 Tipton County, Tornado destroyed home and threw man, 31, about 100 yards.

Narrative Information

National Weather Service: “A very strong system developed on the morning of 31 March, which tracked a strong surface low across the state of Iowa. This system pulled unseasonably warm and moist conditions into the Midwest, which coupled with a very favorable wind profile, and created quite the volatile environment for severe thunderstorms. This event resulted with a tornado outbreak that this area has not seen in quite some time, with several tornadoes that led to a lot of damage. We initially started the event with more discrete supercell thunderstorms, but quickly transitioned to a QLCS event that led to many spin-ups along the leading edge, with embedded supercell structures. Combined with the many tornado reports, we also received many large hail and wind reports.

News Outlets
Apr 1, ABC News: “At least 21 people are dead across six states and dozens have been hospitalized after a tornado outbreak moved through the Midwest and South on Friday night, according to local officials. Among the fatalities, five were in Arkansas, three died in Indiana, one died in Alabama and one died in Mississippi, local officials told ABC News. Adamsville, Tennessee, Mayor David Leckner told The Associated Press that seven people have died in McNairy County. In Illinois, four people died, including a man who was killed after a roof collapsed during a concert at a historic theater.

“The National Weather Service confirmed at least 31 tornadoes across 9 states on Friday and Saturday. More than 28 million people across the South and Midwest were under a tornado watch going into Friday night, according to the NWS.

“A “catastrophic” tornado moved through the metro area of Little Rock, Arkansas, in Pulaski County Friday afternoon, the NWS confirmed. According to preliminary NWS information, the EF3 tornado had winds up to 165 mph and a path length spanning 20-25 miles. At least one person died and more than 50 people across Pulaski County have been hospitalized, with that number expected to rise, Madeline Roberts, a spokeswoman for the county’s emergency management agency, told ABC News. She did not have information on the conditions of those injured….

“Four people have been pronounced dead in Wynne, located roughly 50 miles west of Memphis, which took a direct hit from a tornado. Miles Kimble, the coroner of neighboring St. Francis County, who was assisting in Wynne, confirmed the death toll to ABC News….”
(ABC News. “Tornado updates: At least 21 dead, dozens injured across 6 states.” 4-1-2023.)

April 2, NYT: “NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Communities in at least seven states on Saturday began assessing destruction left by a powerful storm system on Friday that spawned ferocious tornadoes, killing at least 27 people and causing a roof at a packed venue in Illinois to collapse — the second such deadly outbreak of severe weather in the region in a week.

“Fatalities were reported in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, the authorities said on Saturday, with Tennessee accounting for 10 deaths….”
(NYT. “At Least 27 Killed as Tornadoes Tear Through the Midwest and South.” 4-2-2023.)

April 2, CNN: “he death toll rose to 32 Sunday [2nd] after a batch of ferocious storms and tornadoes devastated communities across the American South and Midwest, while parts of the Southern Plains braced for the possibility of their own round of severe weather. The storm outbreak Friday that walloped the country spawned more than 50 tornado reports in at least seven states, where tornadoes crushed homes and businesses, ripped roofs off buildings, splintered trees and sent vehicles flying.

“Wynne, Arkansas – where at least four people died – was cleaved in half by one such tornado, leaving a line of destruction from the city’s western limit to its eastern, according to Mayor Jennifer Hobbs…

“Deaths have been confirmed across a wide swath of states, with multiple victims reported in Arkansas, Indiana and Tennessee, where the statewide death toll rose to 15 Sunday, officials said. Three of the deaths were in Memphis: Two children and one adult were found dead after police responded to calls about trees that had fallen on homes, the Memphis Police Department said in a news release.

“Nine others died in McNairy County, Tennessee, County Mayor Larry Smith confirmed to CNN Sunday. The storm “crossed our county completely from one side to the other,” Sheriff Guy Buck told CNN Saturday evening as authorities continued to search collapsed buildings….” (CNN. “Death toll rises to 32 after tornadoes rip through South and Midwest, leaving communities in ruin.” 4-2-2023.)
Sources

ABC News. “Tornado updates: At least 21 dead, dozens injured across 6 states.” 4-1-2023. Accessed 4-1-2023 at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/violent-tornado-outbreak-major-storm-leaves-millions-alert/story?id=98263258

CBS News/AP. “Tornadoes strike Arkansas, Illinois, Tennessee; at least 21 dead, dozens injured in Midwest.” 4-1-2023. Accessed 4-1-2023 at: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tornadoes-strike-arkansas-illinois-tennessee-indiana-midwest-multiple-fatalities-injuries/

CNN. “Death toll rises to 32 after tornadoes rip through South and Midwest, leaving communities in ruin.” 4-2-2023. Accessed 4-2-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/02/us/us-severe-storm-south-midwest-sunday/index.html

National Weather Service, Quad Cities, IA/IL Weather Forecast Office, NOAA. “Event Summary: March 31, 2023 – Tornado Outbreak.” Accessed 4-2-2023 at: https://www.weather.gov/dvn/summary_03312023

New York Times. “At Least 27 Killed as Tornadoes Tear Through the Midwest and South.” 4-2-2023. Accessed 4-2-2023 at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/us/midwest-storms-flood-weather.html

–9 CNN. “9 soldiers killed after 2 Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky…3-30-2023.
–9 LA Times. “Two Army Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky, killing 9.” 3-30-2023.
–9 NewsChannel5, Nashville. “Names of victims killed in Kentucky Black Hawk…crash…”

Narrative Information

March 30, CNN: “(CNN) — Nine US service members were killed after two helicopters with the 101st Airborne Division crashed late Wednesday in southwestern Kentucky, officials said. There were no survivors. The two HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed around 10 p.m. in Trigg County near the Tennessee border, officials at nearby Fort Campbell said early Thursday. They were taking part “in a routine training mission when the incident occurred,” the base said in a statement on Facebook.

“The helicopters were medical evacuation aircraft, and it’s believed the crash happened while they were flying and not during a medical evacuation drill, Brig. Gen. John Lubas, deputy commander of the 101st Airborne Division, said during a Thursday morning news conference at Fort Campbell. The aircraft went down in an open field across from a residential area, so no additional casualties or injuries were reported, he said. The Black Hawks that crashed were two of four total helicopters taking part in the training exercise, according to 101st Airborne Division spokesman Staff Sgt. Joshua Tverberg. One helicopter had stopped to refuel, and another was ahead of the two that went down….

“The HH-60 Black Hawk is the medical evacuation variant of the helicopter, which can transport a fully equipped 11-person infantry squad. One aircraft had five and the other had four people aboard, which Lubas said is typical and includes the pilot, co-pilot, crew chief and ‘medics or other personnel.’….

“The crash comes less than two months after two Tennessee National Guardsmen were killed when their UH-60 Black Hawk crashed during a training flight in Alabama.

“Overall, the Army has averaged five deaths per year in on-duty aviation accidents since fiscal year 2018, according to the US Army Combat Readiness Center.” (CNN. “9 soldiers killed after 2 Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky during a training mission, Army says.” 3-30-2023.)

March 30, LA Times: “Ft. Campbell, Ky. — U.S. Army investigators are trying to determine what caused two Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters to crash during a routine nighttime training exercise in Kentucky, killing all nine soldiers aboard. No one was hurt on the ground….The helicopters crashed in a field near a residential area with no injuries on the ground… An Army spokesperson declined to comment on whether the helicopters collided in the air….‘This was a training progression, and specifically, they were flying a multi-ship formation, two ships, under night-vision goggles at night,’ Lubas [spokesperson] said….

“Ft. Campbell is near the Tennessee border, about 60 miles northwest of Nashville, and the crash occurred in the Trigg County community of Cadiz.

“Nick Tomaszewski, who lives about a mile from where the crash occurred, said he saw two helicopters flying over his house moments before the crash….” (Los Angeles Times. “Two Army Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky, killing 9.” 3-30-2023.)

March 31, NewsChannel5: “FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (WTVF) — The U.S. Army has released the names of the nine victims killed in Wednesday night’s crash during a training exercise involving two Black Hawk helicopters out of Fort Campbell.

Warrant Officer 1 Jeffery Barnes, 33, of Milton, Florida

Cpl. Emilie Marie Eve Bolanos, 23, of Austin, Texas

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary Esparza, 36, of Jackson, Missouri

Sgt. Isaacjohn Gayo, 27, of Los Angeles, California

Staff Sgt. Joshua C. Gore, 25, of Morehead City, North Carolina

Warrant Officer 1 Aaron Healy, 32, of Cape Coral, Florida

Staff Sgt. Taylor Mitchell, 30, of Mountain Brook, Alabama

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rusten Smith, 32, of Rolla, Missouri

Sgt. David Solinas, Jr., 23, of Oradell, New Jersey

(NewsChannel5, Nashville. “Names of victims killed in Kentucky Black Hawk helicopter crash released.” 3-31-2023.)

Sources

CNN. “9 soldiers killed after 2 Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky during a training mission, Army says.” 3-30-2023. Accessed 3-30-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/30/us/kentucky-helicopter-crash/index.html

Los Angeles Times. “Two Army Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky, killing 9.” 3-30-2023. Accessed 3-31-2023 at: https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-03-30/2-us-army-helicopters-crash-in-kentucky-deaths-feared

NewsChannel5, Nashville. “Names of victims killed in Kentucky Black Hawk helicopter crash released.” 3-31-2023. Accessed 3-31-2023 at: https://www.newschannel5.com/news/names-of-victims-killed-in-kentucky-black-hawk-helicopter-crash-released

–7 The Tennessean. “Nashville school shooting: Seven fatally shot at Covenant School…” 3-30-2023.
–6 ABC 7, NYC. “Alleged Nashville shooter planned attack for months, fired 152 rounds.” 4-4-2023.
–6 The Tennessean. “Covenant School employee said staff members carried guns.” 3-30-2023.
–6 The Tennessean. “Victims of Covenant School shooting include daughter of pastor…” 3-30-2023.

Narrative Information

March 30, The Tennessean: “Three adults and three children are confirmed dead following a mass shooting Monday morning at The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville. The suspect was killed in an altercation with police.

“Don Aaron, a spokesperson for the Metro Nashville Police Department, originally said a 28-year-old female suspect was believed to have entered a side entrance with two assault rifles and a handgun. Police later identified the shooter by his name at birth, Audrey Hale, and did not provide another name. He was a transgender man who used male pronouns….

“The suspect was fatally shot by two of five-member police team around 10:27 a.m. in a second floor lobby.

(The Tennessean (Chris Gadd, et al.), Nashville “Nashville school shooting: Seven fatally shot at Covenant School, including 28-year-old suspect.” 3-27-2023, updated 3-30-2023.)

March 30, The Tennessean: “The Green Hills community is mourning the loss of three children and three adults who were fatally shot Monday at The Covenant School.

“The suspect, identified by police as a 28-year-old former student, entered the school through a side door Monday morning and opened fire. Within 14 minutes, a team of five officers followed sounds of gunfire to a second floor lobby where they fatally shot the suspect.

“The tragic incident marked America’s 129th mass shooting of 2023, according to Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit which tracks gun violence data.

“Here’s what we know so far about the shooting victims…

“Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9. Evelyn Dieckhaus was a student at The Covenant School… She was a third grader at Covenant School….

“Hallie Scruggs, 9. Hallie Scruggs was a student at the Covenant School. Hallie was the daughter of Chad Scruggs, who is the lead pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church….

“William Kinney, 9.
….
“Katherine Koonce, 60. Dr. Katherine Koonce, the head of school at The Covenant School, was an educator for more than 30 years. Metro Police strongly suggested that Koonce confronted the shooter in a school hallway before she was killed….

“Cynthia Peak, 61. Authorities identified Cynthia Peak as a substitute teacher who was working at The Covenant School.
….
“Mike Hill, 61. Mike Hill, one of the three adult victims of the shooting, was The Covenant School’s beloved custodian who had been employed at the school for over a decade….” (The Tennessean (Amber Roberson). “Victims of Covenant School shooting include daughter of pastor, head of school.” 3-27-2023, updated 3-30-2023.)

March 30, The Tennessean: “A person hiding under a desk during the shooting at the Covenant School told the 911 dispatcher that one or two staff members carry guns. At 10:12:05 a.m. Monday, a woman calling from the office of the nursery said, “We do have a school person, or two … I’m not sure … who would be packing, whose job it is for security. We don’t have security guards, but we have staff.” She did not name who typically carried weapons, and it is not clear whether those staff members were at the school at the time of the shooting….” (The Tennessean. “Covenant School employee said staff members carried guns.” 3-30-2023.)

April 4, ABC 7, NYC: “Nashville — The suspect who allegedly shot and killed six people at a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, last week had been planning for “months to commit mass murder at The Covenant School,” police said, citing the suspect’s journals. The suspect… fired 152 rounds during the March 27 mass shooting, Nashville police said in a statement Monday [3rd].

“Hale was armed with two assault-style rifles, a handgun and “significant ammunition” at the time of the attack, according to police. Authorities said Hale owned seven legally purchased guns from five different local stores. The seven guns that were confiscated by the authorities were purchased between Oct. 30, 2020 and June 6, 2022, a law enforcement official told ABC News. The last weapon purchased was an AR-15 style weapon, according to the official.

“Hale was shot and killed by police inside the school. The two officers who shot at Hale discharged four rounds each, according to police.

“A motive remains unknown, but authorities determined that “Hale considered the actions of other mass murderers,” police said. Hale had a detailed map of the school as well as “writings and a book we consider to be like a manifesto,” Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake told ABC News last week….

“A police spokesperson said Hale was assigned female at birth but pointed to a social media account linked to Hale that included the use of the pronouns he/him.” (ABC 7, NYC. “Alleged Nashville shooter planned attack for months, fired 152 rounds.” 4-4-2023.)

April 7: “Nashville, Tenn. (WTVF) — There are exclusive new details about the so-called manifesto left by The Covenant School shooter. Authorities have yet to release what was written publicly. But TBI [TN Bureau of Investigation] director David Rausch did talk candidly about the contents of the manifesto at a Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association meeting. Rausch said what police found isn’t so much a manifesto spelling out a target but a series of rambling writings indicating no clear motive….

“….Investigators searched the Nashville home of the Covenant School shooter leaving with among other things — a number or handwritten journals, some videos and computer hard drives. Rausch told sheriffs that the review so far of the material finds that the killer did not write about specific political, religious or social issues. In fact, a primary focus in the journals is on idolizing those who committed prior school shootings. She appears to have followed their lead planning for months and acted alone….” (News Channel 5, Nashville, TN. “TBI director shares new details on The Covenant School shooter’s manifesto.” 4-7-2023.)

Sources

ABC 7, NYC. “Alleged Nashville shooter planned attack for months, fired 152 rounds.” 4-4-2023. Accessed 4-5-2023 at: https://abc7ny.com/nashville-shooting-tn-tennessee-shooter/13083956/

News Channel 5, Nashville, TN. “TBI director shares new details on The Covenant School shooter’s manifesto.” 4-7-2023. Accessed 4-17-2023 at: https://www.newschannel5.com/news/tbi-director-shares-new-details-on-the-covenant-school-shooters-manifesto

The Tennessean (Keith Sharon), Nashville. “Covenant School employee said staff members carried guns.” 3-30-2023. Accessed 3-30-2023: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2023/03/30/nashville-shooting-school-employee-said-staff-members-carried-guns/70066418007/

The Tennessean (Chris Gadd, et al.), Nashville “Nashville school shooting: Seven fatally shot at Covenant School, including 28-year-old suspect.” 3-27-2023, updated 3-30-2023. Accessed 3-30-2023 at: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2023/03/27/covenant-school-nashville-shooting-green-hills/70052363007/

The Tennessean (Amber Roberson), Nashville. “Victims of Covenant School shooting include daughter of pastor, head of school.” 3-27-2023, updated 3-30-2023. Accessed 3-30-2023 at: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2023/03/27/who-are-the-nashville-school-shooting-victims-covenant-presbyterian/70053940007/

— >25 Associated Press. “‘There’s nothing left’: Deep South tornadoes kill 26.” 3-25-2023.
— 26 CNN. “Deadly tornado and severe storms sweep South.” 3-25-2023.

Alabama ( 1)
–1 Morgan County. Tree fall on mobile home. Cited is Emergency Manager Brandy Davis.

Mississippi (>25)
— >25 Associated Press. “‘There’s nothing left’: Deep South tornadoes kill 26.” 3-25-2023.
— >23 Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves tweet, 3-25-2023.
— 3 Carroll County (in one house), according to coroner Mark Stiles.
— 3 Humphreys County, according to Emergency Management Directory Royce Steed.
— 2 Monroe County. (Cited in coroner Alan Gurley.)
–>13 Sharkey County (which includes Rolling Fork)

Narrative Information

March 25, CNN: “At least 26 people are dead and dozens more are hurt after powerful storms and at least one tornado pummeled the southern United States Friday night [24th]. The confirmed tornado touched down in Mississippi, where the damage and death toll have been most severe. Search-and-rescue teams are spread across the state. More than 28,000 homes and businesses in Mississippi and Alabama are still without power, according to PowerOutage.us. Tens of thousands more were without service until utility crews started making repairs….” (CNN. “Deadly tornado and severe storms sweep South.” 3-25-2023.)

Sources

Associated Press. “‘There’s nothing left’: Deep South tornadoes kill 26.” 3-25-2023. Accessed 3-25-2023 at: https://apnews.com/article/tornado-texas-severe-weather-mississippi-valley-65e553e6358b56b2630ff5c588850505

CNN. “At least 26 dead after tornado-spawning storms roll through Southeast. One town is ‘gone,’ resident says.” 3-25-2023. Accessed 3-25-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/25/weather/us-severe-storms-saturday/index.html

CNN. “Deadly tornado and severe storms sweep South.” 3-25-2023. Accessed 3-25-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/weather/live-news/mississippi-tornado-03-25-23/index.html

–7 CNN. “7 killed in shooting in Half Moon Bay, California.” 1-24-2023 update.
–7 CNN. “At least 7 dead…suspect in custody…shootings…Half Moon Bay…” 1-24-2023 update.
–7 CNN. “Half Moon Bay suspect is charged with 7 murder counts…” 1-26-2023 update.

Narrative Information

Jan 24, CNN: “At least seven people were killed and one person critically injured Monday at two locations in a small coastal community in the San Francisco Bay area, becoming the state’s second mass shooting in three days, officials said.

“The suspect, identified as 67-year-old Chunli Zhao, was taken into custody more than two hours after the shootings in Half Moon Bay, according to San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus. Authorities believe Zhao acted alone, with Corpus noting a motive was not known Monday night and there isn’t a threat to the community….

“At 2:22 p.m., deputies were alerted to a shooting in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, nearly 30 miles south of San Francisco, the sheriff said. They found four victims dead and one wounded upon arrival at the first location, and soon after, three more victims were found dead at a separate site, Corpus said. One shooting took place at a mushroom farm and another near a trucking facility, approximately two miles from the farm, Dave Pine, President of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, earlier told CNN.

“At 4:40 p.m., a sheriff’s deputy located the suspect in his vehicle in the parking lot of a sheriff’s substation in Half Moon Bay, Corpus said, and he was taken into custody without incident. A semi-automatic handgun was found in his vehicle at that time, she said….

“The 66-year-old suspect used a registered gun and appeared to target the individuals he shot, the San Mateo County sheriff said. A motive is not known….

“Zhao had legal possession of a semi-automatic weapon, according to the San Mateo County sheriff. ‘He wasn’t a red flag for us, nothing to put him on our radar. He was known to the individuals at his workplace because he was employed there,’ San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus told CNN Tuesday. She said Zhao was not known to local law enforcement and ‘we’re still learning more about this individual but there was nothing that would have elevated’ any concern about him before the incident.

“The suspect appeared to target his victims: Corpus said the suspect ‘had individuals that he targeted…What we know is this turned into a workplace violence incident and he had an opportunity, we believe, to hurt other people, but he targeted individuals that he went after and pursued.’….

“Children were present at the scene of the mass shooting: Corpus said Monday night that the shooting happened in ‘a big rural location, so people are working. It’s spread out, there’s people that live at the location as well. It was in the afternoon when kids were out of school. For children to witness this is unspeakable.’

“….The owners of the mushroom farm in an unincorporated area in San Mateo County where the gunman killed at least four of Monday’s victims said the killings have left them “shook” and that they have no past knowledge of the gunman or his motives….” (CNN. “7 killed in shooting in Half Moon Bay, California.” 1-24-2023 update.)

Jan 25, CNN: “….Zhao was subject to a temporary restraining order after a former coworker and roommate accused him of attacking and threatening him in 2013. Yingjiu Wang, who worked with Zhao at a restaurant and lived with him in a San Jose apartment, wrote in a court declaration that Zhao’s violent behavior started after Zhao quit that job in March 2013. Early in the morning two days later, Zhao came into Wang’s room and asked for his salary. When Wang told him to pick it up at the restaurant, Zhao said he would kill Wang, then “took a pillow and started to cover my face and suffocate me,” Wang wrote. ‘While I couldn’t (breathe), I used all my might within the few seconds to push him away with my blanket,’ Wang wrote. He said he called for help and another roommate came to the door, but Zhao had allegedly locked it. The two men ended up wrestling on Wang’s bed before Zhao calmed down, according to Wang.

“Two days later, he wrote, Zhao threatened him again, saying ‘he can use a knife to cut my head if he can’t come back to work.’ Wang had no control over Zhao’s work status at the restaurant, he wrote.

“A judge issued a temporary restraining order against Zhao, which prevented him from getting too close to Wang and banned him from owning or buying a gun, according to the court paperwork. The restraining order expired in July 2013. An attorney for Zhao in the 2013 complaint did not respond to requests for comment and Wang could not be reached for comment.

“The incident was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.”

“Zhao lived at the first property, where four victims were killed, for about seven years, according to California Terra Garden spokesperson David Oates. The site, formerly known as Mountain Mushroom Farm, was acquired by the company California Terra Garden in March 2022, Oates said. There are several mobile homes and trailers for employees on the property, which is where the suspect lived, Oates added.

“Zhao was one of about 35 employees working at the farm, the spokesperson said, adding standard background checks for all employees revealed ‘nothing to indicate anything like this was even a possibility.’…” (CNN. “Half Moon Bay shooting suspect legally owned his gun and targeted specific people…” 1-25-2023.)

Jan 26, CNN: “The suspect in the Half Moon Bay, California, mass shooting was charged Wednesday with seven counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in what became the deadliest attack in San Mateo County’s history, the district attorney said. ‘This one is in a category that is way beyond anything we’ve ever dealt with,’ San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. ‘I’m sorry that we have joined the list of counties around this country that have had to deal with this.’

“The suspect – identified as 66-year-old Chunli Zhao — is charged with shooting four people at a mushroom farm Monday, where the suspect was an employee, and three more were killed at a nearby farm, authorities said. The suspect was a “coworker or former coworker” of the victims at each shooting site and evidence points to the attack being an instance of workplace violence, San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus said….

“The suspect could face a sentence of life without parole or the death penalty, the district attorney said….” (CNN. “Half Moon Bay suspect is charged with 7 murder counts as US tallies more mass shootings than days so far in 2023.” 1-26-2023 update.)

Sources

CNN. “7 killed in shooting in Half Moon Bay, California.” 1-24-2023 update. Accessed 1-24-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/half-moon-bay-california-shooting-1-24-23/index.html

CNN. “At least 7 dead, 1 injured and suspect in custody after shootings in Half Moon Bay, California, officials says.” 1-24-2023 update. Accessed 1-24-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/23/us/half-moon-bay-california-shooting-incident/index.html

CNN. “Half Moon Bay shooting suspect legally owned his gun and targeted specific people, authorities said. Here’s what we know about him.” 1-25-2023. Accessed 1-25-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/25/us/half-moon-bay-shooting-suspect-chunli-zhao-what-we-know/index.html

CNN. “Half Moon Bay suspect is charged with 7 murder counts as US tallies more mass shootings than days so far in 2023.” 1-26-2023 update. Accessed 1-26-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/26/us/us-shootings-half-moon-bay-monterey-park-yakima/index.html

–11 CNN. “Death toll in Monterey Park mass shooting rises to 11…”1-23-2023.
–11 Fox News. “California: Police give update on Monterey Park shooting…” 1-26-2023.
–11 KCRA3, Sacramento. “What we know about the 11 victims killed in the Monterey Park shooting.” 1-25-2023.

Narrative Information

Los Angeles Times, Jan 22: “[A] gunman [Huu Can Tran, 72]…opened fire at…[the Star] ballroom dance studio in Monterey Park on Saturday night, killing 10 people and injuring 10 others… Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said a ‘very preliminary description’ was that the suspect is an Asian man aged 30 to 50, but he did not provide further details….The shooting occurred on Lunar New Year’s Eve about seven miles east of downtown Los Angeles….The mass shooting, one of California’s worst in recent memory, happened in the 100 block of West Garvey Avenue around 10:22 p.m. at what appears to be a business known as Star Dance Studio….

“Firefighters pronounced 10 people dead at the scene, including five men and five women, Luna said. At least 10 others were taken to numerous hospitals, and their conditions range from stable to critical.

“About 20 minutes after the shooting, a ‘male Asian suspect’ with a firearm walked into another dance hall [Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio] in the neighboring suburb of Alhambra, Luna said. ‘Some individuals [one — Brandon Tsay, 26, whose family owns the ballroom] wrestled the firearm from him, and that individual took off,’ he said….

“Seung Won Choi, who owns a seafood barbecue restaurant on Garvey Avenue across from where the shooting happened, said three people rushed into his restaurant and told him to lock the door. They said there was a man with a semiautomatic gun in the area. The shooter, they said, had multiple rounds of ammunition, so that once his ammunition ran out he reloaded, Choi said….

“The shooter was carrying a long gun and appeared to fire indiscriminately….

“Hate crimes against Asian Americans in California increased 177.5% in 2021, according to the California Department of Justice….

“Monterey Park, a city of 61,000 in the San Gabriel Valley, east of Los Angeles, is 65% Asian American, 27% Latino and 6% white, according to census data….” (Los Angeles Times. “Gunman still on the loose after 10 killed in mass shooting in Monterey Park dance studio.” 1-22-2023.)

Los Angeles Times, Jan 22, 1:34: “Authorities have breached a white van in Torrance that they believe is connected to the gunman who opened fire at a ballroom dance studio in Monterey Park on Saturday night, killing 10 people and injuring 10 others. [Torrance police pulled the van over in that it matched the description of the van seen at Alhambra. As a SWAT team approached Tran killed himself with a handgun.]

“Just before 1 p.m. Sunday, a SWAT team swarmed the vehicle and smashed its windows in the parking lot of Tokyo Central, a Japanese grocery store near the southwest corner of Hawthorne and Sepulveda boulevards.

“At least two bullet holes had been visible in the driver’s-side window in the moments prior to their approach, and the driver appeared to be slumped over the steering wheel. Multiple law enforcement sources told The Times that the driver had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound….” (Los Angeles Times. “Driver found dead after authorities breach van linked to Lunar New Year mass shooting.” 1-22-2023.)

Jan 23, AP: “Monterey Park, Calif. — The hunt for a gunman who killed 10 people at a Los Angeles-area ballroom dance club ended Sunday when authorities found him dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the van he used to flee after people thwarted his attempt at a second shooting.

“Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna identified the man as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran and said no other suspects were at large. Speaking at an evening news conference, he added that the motive remained unclear for the attack, which wounded 10 more.

“Luna did not have the exact ages of the victims but said they all appeared to be over 50. Seven of the wounded people remained in the hospital, he said.

“The sheriff added that the suspect was carrying what he described as a semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine, and a second handgun was discovered in the van where Tran was found dead.” (Associated Press (Jae C. Hong. “10 killed in California mass shooting amid Lunar New Year celebrations; suspect is dead.” KCAL/KCBS, Los Angeles, 1-23-2023 update.)

Jan 23, CNN: “The death toll in Saturday’s mass shooting at a dance studio in Monterey Park, California, rose to 11 on Monday as investigators searched the gunman’s background for an explanation as to the massacre….The LAC+USC Medical Center, which treated four of the 10 wounded, said Monday that one had died from their injuries.

“All of the victims – five men and six women – were over the age of 50, and three were over 70 years old, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

“Four of the victims were identified as My Nhan, a 65-year-old woman; Lilan Li, a 63-year-old woman; Xiujuan Yu, a 57-year-old woman; and Valentino Alvero, a 68-year-old man, the office said. The other victims were described as two women in their 60s, a woman in her 70s, a man in his 60s and three men in their 70s, the office said.

“The deaths comes as investigators pore into the history of the 72-year-old gunman, Huu Can Tran, who opened fire on revelers celebrating Lunar New Year in the majority-Asian American city.

“Afterward, Tran went to another dance studio in nearby Alhambra, but was tackled and disarmed by a civilian. He fled the scene and police found him a day later in a white van about 30 miles away in Torrance, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound….

“There are as yet few clues as to the motivation of the shooter, an elderly Chinese immigrant described as having an interest in dance and a hot temper.

“In carrying out the attack, he used a semi-automatic assault pistol with an extended large-capacity magazine, authorities said. A law enforcement official told CNN it was a Cobray M11 9 mm semi-automatic weapon. The weapon, which had been disarmed at the Alhambra dance studio, was traced to the suspect, giving authorities his name and description….

“In his white van in Torrance, investigators found a handgun as well as ‘several pieces of evidence’ linking him to the Monterey Park and Alhambra dance studios, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.

“The sheriff’s department also obtained a search warrant for Tran’s home in The Lakes at Hemet West, a senior community about 80 miles east of Monterey Park, a Hemet Police spokesperson confirmed.

“Hemet Police also said Tran had visited their office two weeks ago and made serious allegations of wrongdoing. ‘Tran visited the Hemet Police Department lobby on January 7 and 9, 2023, alleging past fraud, theft, and poisoning allegations involving his family in the Los Angeles area 10 to 20 years ago,’ police said in a statement. ‘Tran stated he would return to the station with documentation regarding his allegations but never returned.’

“Tran had once been a familiar face at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, where he gave informal dance lessons, three people who knew him told CNN. But it’s not clear how often he visited in recent years, if at all. He even met his ex-wife there about two decades ago after he saw her at a dance, introduced himself and offered her free lessons, the ex-wife said. The two married soon after they met, she said. She asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the case…. While he was never violent to her, the ex-wife said, Tran would get upset if she missed a step dancing because he felt it made him look bad.

“Tran worked as a truck driver at times, she said. He was an immigrant from China, according to a copy of his marriage license she showed to CNN….”

Jan 23, AP: “Monterey Park, Calif. — Investigators searching for a motive in the largest mass shooting in Los Angeles County history say a search of the suspected gunman’s home discovered a rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and evidence he was manufacturing gun silencers….

“A man who said he had been a longtime friend of Tran told The Associated Press that the gunman once frequented the dance hall and another that he also targeted and griped about the way he thought people treated him there….” Associated Press. “Monterey Park Shooting: Sheriff seeking what drove ‘mad man’ to shoot up dance hall.” KCRA, 1-23-2023 update.)
Jan 25, CNN: “….Three people who knew Tran [Huu Can Tran], including his ex-wife, told CNN he had once been a familiar face at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, where he gave informal dance lessons. But it’s not clear how often he visited in recent years, if at all, and authorities are still investigating whether he knew any of the victims. ‘There is certainly the appearance that this was targeted,’ Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón told CNN. ‘Clearly, he knew where he was going, and he was familiar with both of the locations.’….

“Those who had met the suspect said he had a hot temper and a difficult temperament. Ilie Bardahan, a dancer at the Lai Lai Ballroom in Alhambra, said Tran had a ‘very bad temperament,’ adding ‘people say he was a little bit psycho in a sense.’ ‘Very sharp movement, pushing a little bit, not being satisfied with certain, I don’t know, improvements of whatever students he had,’ Bardahan said.

“Adam Hood said he rented an apartment from Tran and knew him for 20 years, but they had a falling out and haven’t seen each other in about 8 or 9 years. He said Tran went by the name ‘Andy.’ ‘His personality can be summed up in two words: distrust – he did not trust anyone – and hatred. He could hate people to death. He pushed it to the extreme,’ Hood said. ‘(He hated) whoever he thought was not nice to him. There were other dance instructors he did not like at both (dance studios).’ Hood added Tran thought ‘the instructors were not nice to him, he thought they spoke evil of him. That was baseless. He was always unhappy with the people in the studios, always complaining about studio bosses and other instructors, not about the students. It was all in his mind.’….” (CNN. “11 victims of Monterey Park mass shooting ranged in age from 57 to 76 years old, coroner says.” 1-25-2023.)

Named Victims

1. Valentino Marcos Alvero, 68
2. Hongying Jian (also known as Nancy Liu), 62.
3. Yu-Lun Kao, 72
4. Lilian Li, 63
5. Ming Wei Ma, 72
6. My [or Mymy] Nhan, 65 (Regularly attended the Star Dance Studio on weekends.)
7. Diana Man Ling Tom, 70 (Died Jan 22 in hospital from wounds.)
8. Muoi Dai Ung, 67
9. Chia Ling Yau, 76
10. Wen-Tau Yu, 64 (Identified by authorities in California.)
11. Xiujuan Yu, 57 (Name released by LA Dept. of Med. Examiner-Coroner.)

Sources

ABC News. “All victims identified.” 1-24-2023. Accessed 1-24-2023 at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/monterey-park-mass-shooting/?id=96603692#96638294

ABC News. “Monterey Park shooting victims: Dance studio regular among those who died, family says.” 1-24-2023. Accessed 1-24-2022 at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/monterey-park-shooting-victims-dance-studio-regular-died/story?id=96593758

Associated Press (Jae C. Hong. “10 killed in California mass shooting amid Lunar New Year celebrations; suspect is dead.” KCAL/KCBS, Los Angeles, 1-23-2023 update. Accessed 1-23-2023 at: https://www.kcra.com/article/monterey-park-california-mass-shooting/42607414

Associated Press. “Monterey Park Shooting: Sheriff seeking what drove ‘mad man’ to shoot up dance hall.” KCRA, 1-23-2023 update. Accessed 1-25-2023 at: https://www.kcra.com/article/los-angeles-area-search-for-motive-in-monterey-park-lunar-new-year-killings/42621978

BBC News. “Monterey Park shooting: Suspect found dead after dance studio attack.” 1-23-2023. Accessed 1-24-2023 at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64368796

BBC News, US & Canada. “Monterey Park shooting: Who were the victims?” 1-24-2023. Accessed 1-25-2023 at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64380649

CNN. “11 victims of Monterey Park mass shooting ranged in age from 57 to 76 years old, coroner says.” 1-25-2023. Accessed 1-25-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/24/us/monterey-park-california-mass-shooting-tuesday/index.html

CNN. “Death toll in Monterey Park mass shooting rises to 11 as investigators search for gunman’s motive.” 1-23-2023. Accessed 1-23-2023 at: https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/23/us/monterey-park-california-mass-shooting-monday/index.html

Fox News. “California: Police give update on Monterey Park shooting; identify weapons used in Lunar New Year assault.” 1-26-2023. Accessed 1-26-2023 at: https://www.foxnews.com/us/police-update-monterey-park-shooting-identify-weapons-lunar-new-year-assault

KCRA 3, Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto. “What we know about the 11 victims killed in the Monterey Park shooting.” 1-25-2023 update. Accessed 1-26-2023 at: https://www.kcra.com/article/monterey-park-shooting-lunar-new-year-victims/42645778

KTLA 5, Los Angeles. “Lunar New Year Shooting: what we know about the victims.” 1-24-2023. Accessed 1-24-2023 at: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/monterey-park-shooting/lunar-new-year-shooting-what-we-know-about-the-victims/

Los Angeles Times. “Driver found dead after authorities breach van linked to Lunar New Year mass shooting.” 1-22-2023. Accessed 1-22-2023 at: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-01-22/la-me-monterey-park-mass-shooting

Los Angeles Times. “Gunman still on the loose after 10 killed in mass shooting in Monterey Park dance studio.” 1-22-2023. Accessed 1-22-2023 at: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-01-22/la-me-monterey-park-mass-shooting

Los Angeles Times. “’I was gonna die here’: How a man disarmed the Monterey Park shooter.” 1-23-2023. Accessed 1-24-2023 at: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-01-23/hero-disarms-monterey-park-shooter

New York Times. “A Dreamy Place of Refuge Turns Into Another Spasm of American Violence.” 1-23-2023, updated 1.-24-2023. Accessed 1-24-2023 at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/23/us/monterey-park-shooting-victims.html