SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, Calif. – The aftermath of a deadly shooting at a dance hall in Monterey Park has been marred by yet another unfortunate incident. Money raised for survivors of the tragic event was stolen from a car parked outside a San Gabriel Valley donut shop.
In security camera footage from early Tuesday morning outside Arcadia Donuts, a thief is seen breaking a car window and stealing a bag containing a laptop and $2,000 collected at a weekend fundraiser. The car belonged to the shop owner, who suspects that the thief may have specifically targeted the vehicle after staking out the business.
The stolen funds were intended for the MPK Hope Resiliency Center, where the shop owner’s wife, Shally, meets with a therapist. Shally was at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio on the night of Jan. 21, 2023 when a gunman opened fire, killing 11 people and injuring nine others who had gathered for a Lunar New Year celebration.
The fundraiser was organized in memory of one of the victims, Shally’s 72-year-old dance partner, Yu Kao, also known as Andy, who shielded her from the gunfire during the shooting. A portrait of Andy has a prominent place at the donut shop, serving as a reminder of the tragic loss. The shop owner, Francois Ung, expressed the intention behind the fundraiser, saying, “We wanted to do this fundraiser to remember Andy and the other 10 people who passed away. Andy was a good friend of ours.”
The unfortunate theft has added further distress to the survivors and their families, who were counting on the donated funds. As they continue to cope with the aftermath of the shooting, the community has been rallying to support the survivors and ensure that they receive the help and resources they need during this difficult time. However, the theft serves as a reminder of the challenges that survivors of mass shootings often face in trying to rebuild their lives and move forward.