The room was a mock stage for the reenactment of the worst mass shooting in modern Los Angeles County history. Full-length mirrors graced a wall, illuminating the space with Chinese lanterns and a disco ball. Moreover, a man named Kaidy Kuna practiced his role in a play called Dance with New Year’s Eve, portraying the character written in parallel to the perpetrator of the massacre, Huu Can Tran.

The play was developed with minimal input from those affected by the Jan. 21 Monterey Park tragedy. Its objective was to assist the community in coping with the trauma it endured and grappling with the enigmatic nature of the violent act.

When mass shooters perish, the reasons for their heinous crimes often die with them. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate the incident, which took place at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio during a Lunar New Year’s Eve celebration.

Tran, the perpetrator, had a history of feeling like an outsider. Born to a wealthy Vietnamese family, he endured a tumultuous adolescence. He eventually relocated to the United States, residing in Texas prior to moving to San Gabriel, California in 1989. Despite struggling to maintain steady employment and facing legal trouble, Tran found solace in dancing, especially at the Star Ballroom, where he was known for his friendly demeanor.

Yet, despite his love for dancing, Tran’s struggles continued, and his life gradually disintegrated. He sold his home and eventually lived out of his van. In 2023, Tran returned to Star Ballroom Dance Studio and committed a mass shooting that resulted in 11 fatalities and 9 injuries.

In the end, the motive for Huu Can Tran’s horrific act of violence remains unclear. Witnesses and investigators can only speculate about the motives of a troubled man whose life ultimately ended in a devastating and deadly attack.