Gov. Newsom meets with Brandon Tsay, man credited with disarming Monterey Park gunman

Gov. Gavin Newsom met with Brandon Tsay, the man credited with disarming the gunman suspected of killing 11 people at a dance hall in Monterey Park, Monday, Jan. 23, at his home in San Marino.

“This is what a hero looks like,” the governor wrote in a Twitter post Monday evening. “Brandon did what no one should ever have to do — stopped a gunman at his place of work from killing countless others. Forever grateful for your courage, Brandon.”

Related: These are the victims in the Monterey Park mass shooting

Festivities were about to wrap up at the Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio in Alhambra late Saturday night when Tsay heard the front door close and saw a man with a gun walk inside — now identified by law enforcement as Huu Can Tran, 72, of Hemet, who police said had just fatally shot 11 people at a dance studio in nearby Monterey Park.

Brandon Tsay, 26, disarmed the Monterey Park shooter when he went to a second dance studio with gun in hand in Alhambra late Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. He is seen above during an interview Monday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” (Image from video courtesy of ABC News)

“When I got the courage, I lunged at him with both my hands, grabbed the weapon and we had a struggle,” Tsay said. “We struggled into the lobby, trying to get this gun away from each other. He was hitting me across the face, bashing the back of my head.”

Authorities were still investigating the deadly attack on Tuesday; names of four of the victims had been released as of Tuesday morning. A motive remained unclear.

Gov. Newsom has been visible in Monterey Park since the shooting, meeting with leaders and members of the community.

“The strength of this community is incredible,” Newsom said. “No other country in the world is terrorized by this constant stream of gun violence. We need real gun reform at a national level.”

Sadly, another mass shooting erupted in the northern half of his state on Monday and the governor diverted his attention to that tragedy.

“At the hospital meeting with victims of a mass shooting when I get pulled away to be briefed about another shooting,” Newsom posed on Twitter. “This time in Half Moon Bay.”

At the hospital meeting with victims of a mass shooting when I get pulled away to be briefed about another shooting. This time in Half Moon Bay.

Tragedy upon tragedy.

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 24, 2023

“Tragedy upon tragedy,” he added.

Seven people were killed and one was critically injured in related shootings at two locations in San Mateo County, officials said. Police arrested 67-year-old Zhao Chunli of Half Moon Bay about 4:40 p.m. Monday; he is believed to have acted alone.

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