The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)

Hate against Taiwanese led to church attack

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A gunman in a deadly attack at a Southern California church was a Chinese immigrant motivated by hate for Taiwanese people, authoritie­s said.

The shooter killed Dr. John Cheng, 52, and wounded five others during a lunch held by Irvine Taiwanese Presbyteri­an Church, which worships at Geneva Presbyteri­an Church in Laguna Woods, authoritie­s said at a Monday news conference.

Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said the motive of the shooting was a grievance between the shooter, identified as a Chinese immigrant and U.S. citizen, and the Taiwanese community. China claims Taiwan is a part of its national territory and has not ruled out force to bring the island under its rule.

The suspect was identified as David Chou, 68, of Las Vegas. He has been booked on one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder and is being held on $1 million bail.

Chou is expected to appear in state court Tuesday and it was not immediatel­y clear whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. A federal hate crimes investigat­ion is also ongoing.

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