Seeking A Better Life, Finding Tragedy

(CBS/AP)  As he lay grievously wounded in a classroom at the American Civic Association, Long Huynh cradled his dead wife and tried to keep his eyes open - to stay awake - telling himself he had to survive for their two children.

Gunshots had shattered his elbow, blown off a finger and slammed into his chest and chin. He bled profusely.

This wasn't the way things were supposed to turn out.

He and his wife, Lan Ho, came to the United States from Vietnam two years ago seeking a better life. They were taking English classes at the civic association Friday when Jiverly Wong, 41, burst into their classroom and opened fire, killing 13 before killing himself.

The tragedy was compounded a dozen times over, with similar tales told by the families of Wong's victims and by those who survived the rampage.

Four Chinese were among those killed, and a Chinese student was also shot in the arm and leg but survived, officials said. The other victims came from Haiti, Pakistan, the Philippines, Iraq, Brazil, Vietnam and the United States.

The first 911 calls came in at 10:30 a.m., Police Chief Joseph Zikuski said at a news conference Sunday. The callers spoke in broken English, and it took dispatchers 2 minutes to sort out what was happening, he said.

Patrol officers arrived at 10:33 a.m., five minutes before a wounded receptionist called police to report a gunman in the building, Zikuski said. Police had earlier said it was that call that brought them to the immigration center.

When police arrived at the scene, the gunfire had stopped, so they believed there was no "active gunman" in the center and waited for the SWAT team to arrive, Zikuski said.

The SWAT team entered the building at 11:13 a.m., 43 minutes after the first call to police.

On Sunday, police defended the 43 minutes it took to enter the building after the first frantic 911 calls from terrified immigrants inside the center. Medical examiners told the district attorney that the injuries were so severe, none of the victims would have survived even if police had entered the building immediately.

Survivors reported huddling for hours in a basement, not knowing whether they were still in danger. Huynh told relatives he remained motionless for more than an hour, fearful the gunman would know he had survived.

"He tried to open his eyes as long as he could because he afraid if he close his eyes, he never wake up again," said his sister, Tina Nguyen.

Another relative, Met Tran, said Huynh threw his arms around his wife in a fruitless effort to shield her from the bullets, yelling "Lay down! Lay down!"

"He tell his wife, 'Let me die so you can live and take care of the kids,'" Nguyen recounted.

The couple have an 11-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter.

Nguyen said her sister-in-law simply wanted to work.

"She just try so hard to learn English so she could go to work and get a better life here," Nguyen said. "But I guess it doesn't seem like a better place here, you know?"

On Sunday, friends and relatives of Lan Ho, 39, returned to the scene and held an impromptu memorial service, burning incense and reading from a Buddhist prayer book.

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[elcantante1]

Seeking a better life in the land of the guns? Guns are designed to kill people. Guns are the opposite of life!~

[Kuei1248]

Hey. Those are some hot chicks in the photo. Wonder if any are single.

[catsbow]

I don't like the criticism of our policeman either. Do people think they just waited outside for the heck of it? They are here to protect us but they also have to protec themselves and proceed with caution. Asking them to just run into an ambush is ridiculous.

I also agree with thetireguy1 and hsudul. Enough is enough. America says give us your tired and weary, not those who won' t even try to care for themselves.

[hsudul]

The land of promise and hope can only provide so much help for tose who come to
America for a new life. In the meantime many familes also bring large familes and
expecting the American social system to provide for them. I think we are reaching our
capacity for caring for all all down-trodden who expect the American government to care
for. SEcondly, there should be soime sort of control on too many off springs depending
on welffare. Case s like Nyda Suleman with her 14 kids and then has the gall to beg
for assistance. EDnough is Enough... a little responsiblity would make it easier for
we have the smaller familiies.

[thetireguy1]

Another tragedy in America and now their trying to blame the police
for not responding quicker!
To many wonderful cops shot lately by getting ambushed, I would let
caution prevail before they rush into a future dead mans trap to take
them(cops) out!
The guy who killed was deranged and to kill so many! Why!
Why not seek help into the hospital!!
The guy should have stayed in Vietnam instead of coming to America!
Two many guns in the hands of future killers and to many illegals in America!