A gunman who killed 11 people at a Monterey Park ballroom and then opened fire in a nearby dance hall was banned from both clubs, attendees have revealed.

The dancers said Huu Kang Chan, 72, was kicked out of Star Ballroom Studio and Lai Lai Club about five years ago for hitting on women and being too “grumpy”.

Tran fired 42 rounds into the ballroom Saturday night during the Lunar New Year massacre Californiabefore going to a nearby club where he was disarmed.

Police also discovered Thursday that the weapon he used in the mass shooting was a Cobray CM11-9, and a .308-caliber bolt-action rifle was found at his home.

Local dancer Pinky Chen (pictured right with victim Ming Ma) claims the Monterey Park gunman hasn’t been clubbing in five to eight years

Earlier reports claimed that Tran, who shot and killed himself while driving his car the day after the massacre, was a regular at the Star Ballroom in Monterey Park, California.

Police said Thursday that he was unknown to his victims because he had not been in the studio for at least five years.

Members of the tight-night dance community told Dailymail.com on Thursday that his absence was even longer, having not been seen for nearly eight years.

Dancer Pinky Chen claimed Chan was banned from both clubs, where he later opened fire after angering dancers and teachers.

“When he came to dance halls, he would offer free lessons but tell the woman that in return she could only dance with him,” Chen told DailyMail.com.

“Many of the dancers and teachers complained that he was controversial, and eventually Chan was no longer allowed at Star Dance Studio or Lai Lai.”

The 11 victims of the horrific Lunar New Year mass shooting in Monterey Park have been identified as: Maya Nhan, 65, Lilian Li, 63, Xujuan Yu, 57, Muoi Ung, 67, Hong Jian, 62 years, Diana Thom, 70 years. , Yu Kao, 72, Chia Yau, 76, Valentina Alvera, 68, Wen Yu, 64, and Ming Ma, 72,

Detectives found three firearms in Tran’s possession, including the pictured Cobray CM11-9 model purchased in 1999, identified as the murder device

A Hemet – Savage Arms .308 caliber bolt-action rifle was found at Tran’s residence

After being banned from two dance studios, he reportedly hung out at the Pavilion Club House in nearby Granada Hills, which closed in 2018.

Meanwhile, another dancer, Mr Chu, said he saw the killer every Friday night from 2016 to 2017.

On We Chat, a group dedicated to the dance community, Chu wrote: “He has been talking to many of his dance friends about his unhappy life, his divorce and not having a place to live.

So you could imagine he was very depressed.

“His greatest pride and joy was dancing, but it was taken away.

The Star Ballroom massacre was the nation’s fifth mass killing this month and the deadliest since May 24, when 21 people were killed at an elementary school in Uwald, Texas.

Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio near the scene of Saturday’s fatal shooting

“On a lonely New Year’s Eve, he decided to take a weapon with him to destroy everything. This is the end for him.”

Tran reportedly met his ex-wife at Star Ballroom after offering her free dance lessons.

The couple was married for a short time before he filed for divorce in 2005.

According to reports in the Los Angeles Times, Tran lived at the Lakes at Hemet West mobile home park.

It came after officers discovered there was no known connection between Chan and his victims.

Tran shot and killed 11 people, ranging in age from 57 to 76, but wounded nine more.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said in a statement Thursday: “As of today, based on interviews, investigators have not been able to establish a connection between the suspect and any of the victims.

Tran’s white cargo van was stopped by police on Sunday, but he shot himself before SWAT broke into the vehicle

“The suspect was not married and was not romantically involved with any of the victims. According to witnesses, the suspect has not visited this place for the past five years.”

“It’s frustrating when something like this happens, which is so tragic. We’re trying to figure it out, but it doesn’t make sense.”

Investigators also found a total of three firearms registered to the suspect, as well as a motorcycle, which they believe may have been an alternative getaway vehicle.

The vehicle was strategically located in the 200 block of South Garfield Avenue in Monterey Park.

Police said the murder device was a Cobray model CM11-9 (also known as a Mac-10).

The weapon was not registered in the state of California and was purchased in 1999 in the city of Monterey Park.

Meanwhile, the weapon with which Tran committed suicide was identified as a Norinco 7.62 X 25mm Pistol.

The rifle found in the suspect’s home in Hemet is a Savage Arms .308 caliber rifle.

The suspect had no recent criminal history, but documents show he was arrested 33 years ago in 1990 for illegal possession of a firearm.

Weeks before the massacre, he went to the police to report his family’s poisoning allegations, which went back decades.

Lunar New Year shooting sparks fear in Asian-American communities

Members of the local community left flowers at the memorial outside the Star Ballroom dance studio

Hemet police confirmed he was at the site and promised to return with more evidence of his claims, but failed to do so.

Ming Wei Ma, 72, was among those killed in the crossfire.

Reports named Ma as the owner of the studio, but Chen claimed that Ma was no longer the owner but the studio’s long-term manager.

She said: “My friend Mr Ma was a man of honor and so kind and friendly to everyone.

“The children called him Grandpa Ma. He was well-liked by everyone in the dance community, even those who weren’t dancers.”

Mom leaves behind two children, Ray and Mary.

Other victims are being honored, including: Maya Nhan, 65, Lilian Li, 63, Xujuan Yu, 57, Muoi Ung, 67, Hong Jian, 62, Diana Thom, 70, Yu Kao, 72, Jia Yau, 76, Valentina Alvera , 68 and Wen Yu, 64.

Anyone with information about a motive in this case is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.