'You are America,' Biden tells hero who tackled mass shooter

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden phoned the 26-year-old who wrestled the gun away from a suspected mass shooter in California, telling him Thursday: "You are America."

"I wanted to call and see how you're doing and thank you for taking such incredible action in the face of danger," Biden is heard telling Brandon Tsay on a recording of the call.

Biden posted himself on Twitter talking to Tsay, who wrestled the firearm from a 72-year-old man who walked into the Lai Lai Ballroom & Studio in Alhambra, California, during Lunar New Year celebrations this month.

Police say the armed man had minutes earlier shot dead 11 people at a different dance hall in nearby Monterey Park.

After Tsay managed to secure the gun in an extended tussle -- captured on closed caption video later released by US media -- the suspect left and the next morning shot himself dead as police closed in on his van.

"I don't think you understand just how much you've done for so many people who are never even going to know you. But I want them to know more about you," Biden said.

"You have my respect. You are America, pal," the president said. "America's never backed down. We've always stepped up because of people like you."

Tsay can be heard saying he was "still processing what I did and what I experienced."

"For you to call, that's just so comforting for me," he tells Biden. -- Agence France-Presse