New York Daily News

Shooter had complained to cops about theft, poisoning

- BY PETER SBLENDORIO With News Wire Services

The suspect in the Monterey Park, Calif., mass shooting went to police with a series of accusation­s earlier this month, officials said Monday.

Huu Can Tran described “past fraud, theft and poisoning allegation­s involving his family in the Los Angeles area 10 to 20 years ago” during visits with the Hemet Police Department on Jan. 7 and Jan. 9, cops said in a statement.

Police say Tran had a residence in Hemet, located about 85 miles from the scene of the massacre.

“Tran stated he would return to the station with documentat­ion regarding his allegation­s but never returned,” the Hemet Police Department said.

Tran, 72, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Sunday following a manhunt, officials said.

The carnage at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio on Saturday night left 11 people dead, including 10 at the scene and an 11th whose death was announced Monday, according to authoritie­s. The rampage occurred after a Lunar New Year celebratio­n in Monterey Park, which has a large Asian population.

A motive has not been released. Tran regularly went to the dance studio in the past and met his ex-wife there, sources told CNN.

“What drove a madman to do this? We don’t know, but we intend to find out,” said Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna.

A rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammo and evidence Tran was trying to make gun silencers were found at his home on Monday, according to authoritie­s.

A vigil in Monterey Park will take place Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. local time, officials announced.

“We believe that it is important for our community to come together to remember and heal,” Mayor Henry Lo said in a statement.

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