Hogtie in the congregation suspects after a deadly shooting in a church in California
Shooting at the Presbyterian Church in Geneva, Laguna Woods, California, killed at least one person and injured five more.
Cody Godwin, Storyful
Los Angeles – Authorities on Monday Deadly shooting at a church in Southern California It was a “political motivated hatred” against the Taiwanese community.
At least one person was killed and five were injured when an archer fired at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, which hosted the Taiwanese congregation on Sunday afternoon.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as David Chow, 68, in Las Vegas on Monday. Chow was booked for one felony of attempted murder and five felony of attempted murder. The sheriff’s department said in a tweet..
FEderal BUreau MeResearch We have started a hate crime investigation against shooting.
Officials said the butterfly drove to the church Sunday morning He then entered the luncheon and fired mainly at a group of older congregations. According to Don Burns of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Chow tried to secure the church door with a chain and use superglue to invalidate the lock.
Police found several bags around the church, including ammunition magazines and Molotov cocktails, Burns said on Monday.
Chinese immigrant butterflies target church In an “isolated case” Mr Burns said because of frustration with the political disagreement between China and Taiwan. It is not clear why that particular church was targeted.
Police identified the dead victim as John Chen in the congregation In the church A person shot after prosecuting a suspect and attempting to disarm him. According to Burns, his “heroic behavior” allowed other individuals to subdue the suspect, hogtie his legs with extension cords, and steal weapons.
Chen was declared dead on the scene.
“Dr. Chen is the hero of this case,” Burns said. “Without Dr. Chen’s actions, there is no doubt that the crime would have resulted in more casualties.”
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how Laguna Woods Church Will the shooting develop?
Police said the archer was armed with two pistols when he entered the church around 1:30 pm on Sunday.
There are about 50 people, most of whom are of Taiwanese descent, and have just gathered for an afternoon lunch after the morning service.Officials said.. Their age ranged from 66 to 92 years. Year oldAccording to Burns.
Chow, who drove into Orange County on Saturday, drove to the church parking lot with two pistols legally purchased in Nevada. Police said the butterfly fired at the building after trying to secure the door with chains, nails and superglue.
When the agent arrived, they found the suspect wearing a hogtie and detained him. He wasn’t injured.
“The majority of the people in attendance were elderly and they acted voluntarily and heroically,” Burns said on Monday. “Without their swift action, the way this individual set up the environment to kill more people, and without the coordinated efforts of the members of the church, far more lives would have been lost. prize.”
Jerry Chen, 72, told The Associated Press that he was in the church kitchen when he heard the gunshot. He said the congregation was taking pictures with a former minister who had lunch before the shooting began. Chen saw the church attendees running and screaming.
“I knew someone was shooting. I was very scared. I ran out of the kitchen door and called 911,” he told the news agency.
Chen called 911 in the church parking lot and said he was shocked and had to ask someone for his address.
“This is very sad. I never expected this to happen in my church or community,” Chen said.
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What is the motive of the shooter?
Officials said archers targeted the church’s Taiwanese community over political dissatisfaction with tensions between China and Taiwan.
“This was a politically motivated hatred and the dissatisfaction this individual had between himself and the entire Taiwanese community,” Burns said.
Chow was a Las Vegas guard People who have nothing to do with a particular religionBurns said Monday.. Police said there was “no known relationship” between Chow and the Presbyterian Church of Geneva or the individual congregations. They said the butterfly acted alone.
Butterfly, Chinese immigrants According to Burns, those who have lived in the United States for “long years” have wives and sons who do not live in the United States.
The FBI has begun investigating hate crimes related to shooting, said Christie Johnson, assistant director of the agency’s Los Angeles field office.
“We have found evidence that individuals have been motivated by some kind of hatred,” Johnson said.
According to Todd Spitzer, District Attorney for Orange County, the butterfly family was among many who were believed to have been forcibly removed from China to Taiwan after 1948.
Police collected by hand According to Burns, a note from the suspect’s car confirms evidence that the suspect targeted the Taiwanese congregation based on that background.
“I believe his hatred for Taiwan manifested himself in the past few years, perhaps when he lived there when he was young,” Burns said.
Tensions between China and Taiwan are highest in decades, and Beijing is increasing its military presence by flying fighters towards the autonomous islands. China has not ruled out its power to reunify with Taiwan, which split from the mainland during the 1949 civil war.
A former neighbor said Chow’s life was unveiled after being beaten to death a few years ago.
Chow was a comfortable man who owned the Las Vegas apartment he lived in, Balmore Olerana told The Associated Press. However, Mr. Olerana said the butterfly suffered head injuries and serious injuries in the tenant’s attack, and he sold his property.
Neighbors said last summer that Chow shot a gun in the apartment. No one was injured, but he was kicked out.
Orellana says Chou’s mental abilities seemed to decline in recent months. He may have lost his home, angry that the government did not provide comfort to his retirement.
Chow will appear in state court on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer who could speak for him.
The afternoon lunch was to honor a former pastor of the Taiwanese congregation serving in Geneva, according to a statement from the Presbyterian Society of Los Lanchos, the executive branch of the church.
Chen said former Rev. Billy Chan had been serving the church for over 20 years before returning to Taiwan. He said this was his first visit.
“Taiwanese congregations and Geneva are taking care of those traumatized by this shooting, so keep your leadership in their prayers,” said Tom Kramer of the Middle School in a Facebook statement. Said.
Who were the victims?
Chen, 52, Who died According to Burns, he was a Lagunanigel doctor who specialized in sports medicine and married two children.
Burns said Chen heroically charged the shooter in an attempt to disarm him, allowing others to intervene. Chen probably “saved the lives of dozens or more people,” the sheriff said.
The minister hit the shooter’s head in a chair, and the parishioners tied him with an electric cord. However, Chen was hit by a shooting.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, four Asian men aged 66, 75, 82, and 92 and an 86-year-old Asian woman were injured in the shooting.
They were all taken to the hospital For treatment, The sheriff’s department said. According to Mike Contreras of the Orange County Fire Department, the two victims were “in good condition” and the two were “stable.”
A Validated GoFundMe web page Raised more than $ 20,000 for the victims as of Monday.
Contribution: Associated Press
