A congregation of elderly Taiwanese Americans were attending church at Laguna Woods in Southern California on Sunday, when a fatal shooting occurred.
Five people were injured and one person was killed at the Geneva Presbyterian Church at 1:30 in the afternoon.
About 50 people were at a church luncheon following the service when the shooting occurred. They ranged in age from 66 to 92.
The FBI said the shooting was a “politically motivated hate incident” against the Taiwanese community.
The suspect was identified as David Chou, 68, a Chinese security guard from Las Vegas. He was charged with murder and attempted murder, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said in a tweet.
Mr. Chou entered the church and fired on congregation members during the luncheon. He locked the church doors with chains, to keep people from fleeing, according to Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes.
The shooting is being treated as an “isolated incident,” with Chou as the sole shooter. Chou, a Chinese immigrant who has lived for many years in the US, was violently venting his frustrations over the political strife between China and Taiwan, Barnes said. Notes found in the suspect’s car supported this theory.
Police found ammunition and Molotov cocktails at the scene. The shooter had two pistols that were legally purchased in Nevada.
A member of the congregation, John Cheng, 52, a doctor from Laguna Niguel, was pronounced dead at the church. He attacked Chou, and tried to disarm him, before Chou shot him. Mr. Cheng’s actions allowed others to subdue Chou and seize his weapons, preventing others from being shot.
“Dr. Cheng is a hero in this incident,” Barnes said. “Without the actions of Dr. Cheng, it is no doubt that there would have been numerous additional victims in this crime.”
Four elderly victims were hospitalized and are reportedly in good or stable condition.