ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

Church shoot vic ruched gunman a curtain in the church and was carrying a second 9mm pistol. Both guns were purchased legally in Nevada, where Chou was a licensed security guard, officials said. Chou was booked on one felony murder charge and five felo

The fatal victim in the California church shooting was a doctor who died while saving his fellow congregants — by charging at the gunman, authorities said Monday.

Retired pastor Billy Chang, the longtime leader of Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, also helped thwart the deadly attack Sunday by tackling the shooter, allowing congregants to hogtie the man’s legs with extension cords and disarm him, officials said.

“I think it’s safe to say that had people not intervened, it could have been much worse,” Orange County Undersheriff Jeff Hallock

said. “That group of churchgoers displayed what we believe is exceptional heroism and bravery in intervening to stop the suspect. They undoubtedly prevented additional injuries and fatalities.”

Dr. John Cheng, a sports medicine specialist from Laguna Niguel, was fatally shot while rushing the attacker, identified by authorities Monday as David Chou, 68.

Five others were hurt. “After others had been shot, he took it upon himself to charge across the room and to do everything he could to disable the assailant,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told reporters.

Chang, meanwhile, whacked the alleged gunman in the head with a

chair as he stopped to reload his weapon.

The quick-thinking actions by both men allowed other churchgoers to grab Chou’s gun and tie him up, authorities said.

“He sacrificed himself so that others could live,” Spitzer said, referring to Cheng. “That irony, in a church, is not lost on me.”

Cheng was married with two children, according to Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes.

Chou, a Las Vegas resident and US citizen who lived for some time in Taiwan, allegedly chained the doors to the church before opening fire on a luncheon with a 9mm handgun, killing Cheng and wounding five other congregants. He allegedly stashed extra ammunition and Molotov cocktails behind

ACT OF BRAVERY: John Cheng (inset, above) is being called a hero after the doctor was fatally shot charging at a gunman at his church (above) in California. David Chou,(inset, left) has been charged in the crime.