Hatred spurs on killing spree

CHURCH: GUNMAN PADLOCKS DOORS AND OPENS FIRE

‘He was upset about political tensions between China and Taiwan.’

Aman who padlocked a church and opened fire on its Taiwanese-American congregation, killing one person and injuring five others, was motivated by hatred of the island and its people, US investigators said Monday.

David Chou jammed the doors shut using chains and superglue as dozens of parishioners enjoyed a post-service banquet at the church in Laguna Woods, near Los Angeles.

The 68 year old, an American citizen, also hid bags containing Molotov cocktails and spare ammunition around the building, before opening fire with two handguns, in what investigators say was a “methodical” attempt to inflict carnage.

“We know that he formulated a strategy that he wanted to employ,” Orange County sheriff Don Barnes said.

“It was very well thought-out from how he had prepared, both being there, securing the location, to placing things about the inside of the room to perpetuate additional victims if he had the opportunity,” he added.

Chou, who works as a security guard in Las Vegas, launched the attack out of “politically motivated hate... [and] was upset about political tensions between China and Taiwan.”

Sheriff Barnes said Chou “is a US citizen who immigrated from China”.

An official at Taiwan’s trade office in Los Angeles said he was born on the island in 1953.

Taiwan has been ruled independently since the end of a civil war in 1949. It has its own democratically elected government and a powerful military.

Authoritarian China claims the island as its own, insisting it is a renegade province that will one day be brought to heel.

Details emerged of the heroism of one parishioner, who tackled Chou as he began shooting.

John Cheng, a doctor, charged Chou in a bid to bring him to the ground, allowing others to hogtie him until police arrived.

“Without the actions of Dr Cheng, there is no doubt that there would have been numerous additional victims in this crime,” said Barnes.

“Unfortunately, after Dr Cheng tackled the suspect he was hit by gunshots and was pronounced deceased at the scene.”