Hatred against Taiwanese led to church shooting
LOS ANGELES – Authorities said Monday that a deadly shooting at a Southern California church was a “politically motivated hate incident” against the Taiwanese community.
At least one person was killed and five people were injured when the shooter opened fire Sunday afternoon at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, which was hosting a Taiwanese congregation.
The Orange County Sheriff ’s Department identified the suspect Monday as David Chou, 68, of Las Vegas. Chou was booked on one felony count of murder and five felony counts of attempted murder, the sheriff ’s department said in a tweet.
The FBI opened a hate crime investigation into the shooting.
Authorities said Chou drove to the church and entered during a luncheon, firing on a group of largely elderly congregants. Chou secured the doors of the church with chains and tried to disable the locks with superglue, according to Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes.
Police discovered several bags around the church containing magazines of ammunition as well as Molotov cocktails, Barnes said Monday.
Chou, a Chinese immigrant, targeted the church because of frustration over political disagreements between China and Taiwan, Barnes said.
Police identified the victim who died as John Cheng, a congregant who was shot after charging the suspect and trying to disarm him. His “heroic actions” allowed other individuals to subdue the suspect and hogtie his legs with an extension cord and take away his weapons, Barnes said.
Cheng was pronounced dead on the scene.
How did shooting unfold?
Police said the shooter was armed with two handguns when he entered the church around 1:30 p.m. PDT Sunday.
About 50 people inside, most of whom were of Taiwanese descent, had just finished morning services and gathered for an afternoon luncheon. They ranged in age from 66 to 92, according to Barnes.
Chou, who had driven into Orange County on Saturday, drove to the church parking lot that morning with two pistols he had legally purchased in Nevada, authorities said. After trying to secure the doors with chains, nails and superglue, Chou fired into the building, according to police.
When deputies arrived, they found the suspect hogtied and took him into custody. He was not injured.
“The majority of the people in attendance were elderly, and they acted spontaneously, heroically,” Barnes said Monday. “If not for their quick action, the way that this individual set up that environment to kill many more people, there would have been many, many more lives lost if not for the concerted effort of the members of that church.”
Jerry Chen, 72, told The Associated Press he was inside the church’s kitchen when he heard gunshots. Chen saw churchgoers running and screaming.
“I knew someone was shooting,” he told the AP. “I was very, very scared. I ran out the kitchen door to call 911. ”
Chen said he called 911 in the church parking lot and had to ask someone for the address because he was in shock.
“This is just so sad. I never, ever thought something like this would happen in my church, in my community,” Chen said.
What motivated the shooter?
“This was a politically motivated hate incident, a grievance that this individual had between himself and the Taiwanese community at large,” Barnes said.
Chou was a security guard from Las Vegas, Barnes said. Police said there were “no known ties” between Chou and the Geneva Presbyterian Church or any individual congregants. They said Chou acted alone.
Chou, who has lived in the USA “for many years,” has a wife and son who do not reside in the country, Barnes said.
The FBI opened a hate crimes investigation into the shooting, said Kristi Johnson, assistant director in charge of the bureau’s Los Angeles field office.
“We have discovered evidence that the individual was motivated by some kind of hate, “Johnson said.
Police collected notes from the suspect’s vehicle as supporting evidence that the suspect targeted the Taiwanese congregation based on their background, Barnes said.
“I believe his hatred of Taiwan manifested when he was residing there in previous years, possibly in his youth,” Barnes said.
Cheng, 52, was a doctor from Laguna Niguel who specialized in sports medicine and was married with two children, according to Barnes.
Three other men and one woman, 86, were hurt during the shooting. Two of the victims were a married couple in their mid-80s.
They were all taken to hospitals, the sheriff’s department said.
Two victims were in “good condition” and two were “stable,” according to Mike Contreras with the Orange County Fire Authority.