Brandon Tsay is being hailed as a hero after preventing what could have been a second shooting following Saturday night's tragedy in Monterey Park, a city in Los Angeles County in California.
Tsay—whose parents own Lai Lai Ballroom & Studio—said in an interview on Good Morning America he heard the front door of the venue click and turned to find a man holding a gun. Tsay was unaware of the shooting that killed 11 people and injured 9 others at another studio just minutes earlier.
He told Robin Roberts:
"He started prepping the weapon and something came over me."
"I realized I needed to get the weapon away from him."
"I needed to take this weapon, disarm him or else everybody would have died."
That's when Tsay heroically sprang into action.
"When I got the courage, I lunged at him with both my hands, grabbed the weapon and we had a struggle."
"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."
You can watch the interview below.
Tsay threatened to shoot the man if he didn't leave.
"He was just standing there, contemplating whether to fight or to run away."
The man finally left and drove away in his van.
He was later identified by police as the man who opened fire just 20 minutes earlier at Star Dance Studio. His victims were all in their 50s, 60s and 70s.
10 victims were killed on site. An additional victim succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
People who learned of Tsay's bravery thanked him for his selfless act of courage.
Yet another example of how #WeKeepUsSafe, thank you for your courage & bold action. If only elected leaders would do the same…
— Gregory Allan Datu Cendana 🏳️🌈🇵🇭 (@gregorycendana) January 23, 2023
Brandon Tsay is a true American hero. This interview is excellent! You can clearly see the shocked look on his face. My heart hurts for him and all involved. I know the Tsay Family is so proud! Brandon’s parents raised an amazing man. Mr. Tsay, the entire country thanks you.
— Kate (@katiebooau) January 23, 2023
@carnegie_hero should take a look at Brando Tsay’s courageous actions in disarming the shooter at great risk to himself
— Gilo Moreno (@GiloMoreno) January 23, 2023
Hero.
Thank you for selflessly and courageously disarming the gunman, Brandon. You saved so many. #BrandonTsay
— Carmine Covelli (@carminecovelli) January 23, 2023
This is a American Hero! He saved who knows how many lives with his bravery and courage! #BrandonTsay 🙏❤️
— Kristen (@KRice7) January 23, 2023
THIS is what you call a hero
— GiGi Candy (@LoveGigiAndZayn) January 23, 2023
Courage and fast acting instincts allowed Brandon Tsay to save people from harm's way. This is incredible.
— *Nina* (@_Nina_To) January 23, 2023
My God, this kid is an absolute hero. His bravery 100% saved a whole bunch of lives this night. He’s also traumatized. I hope that someone close to him starts a gofundme me so he can get whatever help he may need.
— MicheleBella 🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲 (@Michelebella677) January 23, 2023
Brandon there are no words to share of my gratefulness for your action 🙏🏻 Peace to you
— MiaToo (@Mia_too) January 23, 2023
Oh man! What a hero!
I have no idea what I would or could have done, had I been in his situation!
— 낙화유수 ITZY-FallenFlowerOnWater (@Fallenfloweronw) January 23, 2023
Unbelievable courage. #Hero
— canuck_Lynn (@canuck_duck) January 23, 2023
The following day police found the gunman dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
He opened fire at Star Dance studio in a predominately Asian community of Monterey Park where attendees were celebrating the Lunar New Year. He fled the scene and drove to Lai Lai Ballroom where a similar celebration was taking place.
Tsay said fortunately most of their attendees had already gone home when the gunman arrived.
Tsay reflected on the incident:
"I was shaking all night. I couldn't believe what happened."
"A lot of people have been telling me how much courage I had to confront a situation like this."
"But you know what courage is? Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the ability to have adversity to fear when fearful events happen such as this."
He finished:
"In crises like this, the people need courage, especially the victims, their friends, their families."
"My heart goes out to everybody involved, especially the people in Star Dance Studio and Monterey Park."
"I hope they can find the courage and the strength to persevere."
Tsay is a true hero.
