MAN FACES HATE CRIME CHARGES IN SHOOTING

A man accused of fatally shooting one person and wounding five others at an Orange County church luncheon last year has been charged with dozens of federal hate crimes in connection with the attack, which investigators said was motivated by hatred of Taiwan.

The indictment announced Thursday by the U.S. Department of Justice charges David Chou of Las Vegas with 98 counts including weapons and explosives charges and forcefully obstructing the free exercise of religion.

Messages seeking comment from attorneys who have represented Chou, 69, in a separate case in state court were not returned.

Authorities said Chou chained and nailed shut exit doors before launching the attack on a gathering of older parishioners from the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods on May 15, 2022.

Chou had two handguns, bags of ammunition and four Molotov cocktail-style devices, and was motivated by hatred of Taiwan, where he grew up, investigators said.

Among the charges were 45 counts of obstructing free exercise of religious beliefs by force, “which resulted in the death of one person, included attempts to kill 44 others, and involved the use of a firearm and attempted use of explosives and fire,” the Justice Department said.

Chou was charged last year by Orange County prosecutors with murder and attempted murder including enhancements for a hate crime and other counts. He pleaded not guilty. Online records show Chou is currently being held without bail in Orange County and due back in court July 14.