Hate of Taiwanese led 68-year-old man to attack church

A gunman motivated by political hatred against Taiwan chained shut the doors of a California church and hid firebombs inside before shooting at a gathering of mostly elderly Taiwanese parishioners, killing a man who tackled him and possibly saved dozens of lives, authorities said.

David Chou, 68, of Las Vegas

— a U.S. citizen who authorities say grew up in Taiwan — drove to Orange County on Saturday. The next day, he attended a lunch held by Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in the community of Laguna Woods. Though he knew no one there, he spent about an hour mingling with attendees and then executed his plot, authorities said at a news conference. Authorities said Chou chained the doors and put super glue in the keyholes. He had two 9 mm handguns — legally purchased years ago — and three bags, containing among other things four Molotov-cocktail-type incendiary devices and extra ammunition.

He opened fire and in the ensuing chaos Dr. John Cheng, 52, tackled him, allowing other parishioners to subdue him and tie him up with extension cords. Cheng died and five people were wounded. Sheriff Don Barnes said Cheng’s heroism probably saved the lives “of upwards of dozens of people.”

Chou was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer also announced that Chou faces enhancements for “lying in wait” and use of a firearm, as well as four counts of possessing destructive devices with intent to kill or harm. A federal hate crimes investigation is also ongoing. There was no immediate word on why Chou targeted the church in Laguna Woods. Barnes said the motive for the shooting was Chou’s hatred toward Taiwan, documented in handwritten notes.

Chou’s family was among many forcibly removed from mainland China to Taiwan sometime after 1948, Spitzer said. Relations between mainlanders forced to flee a Communist takeover and native Taiwanese were frequently tense. Balmore Orellana, a former neighbor, said Chou’s life unraveled after his wife left him last year. Chou used to own the apartment building where he lived until being evicted this year, Orellana said. Records showed the property was sold last October. Orellana said Chou’s wife used the money from the sale to move to Taiwan.

JAE C. HONG/AP Jason Aguilar (left), a senior pastor at Arise Church, comforts Billy Chang, a 67-year-old Taiwanese pastor who survived Sunday’s shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church, during a prayer vigil in Irvine, Calif., on Monday. Authorities say a Chinese-born gunman was motivated by hatred.