In the Laguna Woods church incident, David Chou is suspected of killing one person and injuring five others. Find out more about this case.
David Chou, a Las Vegas man has been named prime suspect in deadly SoCal church shooting that left 1 dead, 5 wounded, police say.
The gunfire was reported at the church at 1:26 p.m. in the retirement city of Laguna Woods, about 20 miles southeast of Anaheim, the sheriff’s department said. Four victims suffered critical injuries, it said.
The victim’s body was discovered at the scene, sheriff’s officials said. All of the surviving victims, including a person with minor injuries, were hospitalized.
On Friday police in Dallas said they were looking for a person who might be targeting people of Asian backgroun
Three Korean women were injured in a shooting at a hair salon Wednesday officials said.
Police Chief Eddie was investigating the shooting as a hate crime.
hate crime investigation. Attacks against Asian Americans have skyrocketed in recent years.
Police sources stressed that the investigation was in its very preliminary stages and that they have not determined any motive.
There were roughly 40 people inside the church at the time- most of which were Taiwanese.
At this time, it remains unclear if this was a racially motivated crime.
Authorities have yet to reveal a reason for the mass shooting, which occurred while the country was still suffering from a racist shooting spree at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, that left ten people dead.
Who Is David Chou? The Prime Suspect In California Church Shooting
David Chou is a 68-year-old Las Vegas native.
On May 16, he was identified as the man police believe opened fire at the Geneva Presbyterian Church.
He has been charged with one felony count of murder and five felony counts of attempted murder, Orange County Sheriff’s Office said, and is being held on $1million bail.
Meghann Cuniff of The Washington Post described the shooter as an “Asian male in his 60s” in a tweet shortly after the news broke.
Chou was detained by members of the Geneva Presbyterian Church, who hogtied him with electrical extension cords, according to the sheriff’s department.
Sheriff’s officials said as many as 40 people who belong to the Taiwanese church were at the facility when gunfire broke out.
Tom Cramer, a co-executive at a network of Orange County Presbyterian churches, the Presbytery of Los Ranchos, said the violence took place during a luncheon honorer pastor of the Taiwanese congregation.
The organization “is deeply saddened by a fatal shooting that occurred at a lunch reception,” he said in a statement.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, David was arrested on charges of murder and attempted murder in connection with the Sunday shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church in the 24000 block of El Toro Road.
Authorities are still trying to determine the motive behind the violence at the church.
The attack happened during a lunch after the morning service at the church.
One person, identified only as a man, was shot and killed. His identity is being withheld pending notification of his family.
Five other people were wounded, including an 86-year-old woman and four men aged 66, 92, 82 and 75. They were all Asian, officials said.
Authorities claimed the shooting ended when the church’s congregants overcame the perpetrator and hogtied him with an extension cord until first responders arrived, in the act of “amazing heroism.”
Suspect in California Church Shooting Identified, Booked on One Count of Murder https://t.co/AHeedhKlqH
— @Gabriele news and information. (@Gabenewsinfo) May 16, 2022
Who are the Geneva Presbyterian Church shooting victims?
At this time, the names of the victims who were injured in the shooting have not been revealed, however, their ages and genders were released.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, those who were injured include a 66-year-old Asian male, 92-year-old Asian male, 86-year-old Asian female, 82-year-old Asian male, and a 75-year-old Asian male
Taiwan’s government says its Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles has activated emergency response plans.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sends our deepest condolences to the victims and their families,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Joanne Ou said. “We will keep in touch with the family members of the victims to understand their needs, and provide all necessary help,” she added.
All five victims sustained gunshot wounds, and four of them have been labeled as critically injured.
The identity of the deceased has also been withheld pending official identification by the coroner and notification of next of kin, the department added.
The shooting came a day after an 18-year-old man shot and killed 10 people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York.
How Was David Chou Arrested?
According to jail records, Chou is held in the Orange County Intake Release Center. He is due to be arraigned in Central Jail Court on Tuesday, at which time he will be able to enter a plea, though that date may change.
The Taiwanese congregation, which became a sister congregation at Geneva Presbyterian Church about five or six years ago, always holds a lunch after their Sunday morning service, Laguna Woods Mayor Pro Tem Cynthia Conners told CNN.
“We’ll see what we can do to meet with the members of the congregation, we’ll bring in someone from the Orange County Human Rights Commission … and try to make sure that the Asian members of our community feel as safe as all the other members of our community, although I would have to say I think we all feel a little less safe today,” Conners said.
A suspect in a deadly shooting at a church on Sunday in Laguna Woods, California, has been identified, authorities said. https://t.co/Iz1TV9wL6e
— ABC30 Fresno (@ABC30) May 16, 2022
Everything About David Chou Family And Asian Background
David Chou’s personal information has yet to be released in the media; he is supposed to be of Asian descent, but the specific facts remain unknown.
His family may be upset by the news, given he is suspected of being involved in the horrific case.
Since the case is so recent, there isn’t much public information about him. As the case progresses, his true identity may be discovered.
