ORANGE DISTRICT, California (KABC) – A shooting at a church in Orange County that killed one person and injured five others was a “politically motivated hate incident,” authorities said Monday.
The suspect, identified as David Chow of Las Vegas, has been charged with one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. He was detained on $ 1 million bail. The Orange County Attorney’s Office is expected to formally charge him Monday.
The shooting took place shortly before 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Geneva Presbyterian Church on El Toro Road in Laguna Woods. During a press conference, Sheriff Donald Barnes said Chow acted alone and was not a regular visitor to the church.
Barnes added that the 68-year-old Chinese citizen was motivated by anger over political tensions between China and Taiwan. This anger travels to Southern California from Las Vegas, where he lives alone and works in security.
This is a very new story and will be updated. A previous report is below.
The suspect, accused of setting fire to a church in Orange County, killing one person and injuring five others, has been identified as a 68-year-old Las Vegas man.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, David Chow has been charged with one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder. He was detained on $ 1 million bail. The Orange County Attorney’s Office is expected to formally charge him Monday.
The shooting took place shortly before 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Presbyterian Church in Geneva on El Toro Road in Laguna Woods, and a group of parishioners are credited with stopping the shooter. Police said at a news conference Sunday afternoon that the gunman had been tied to his legs with an extension cord by a group of churchgoers.
Ken Lee, 81, was inside the church with his wife at the time and told ABC News he thought the sounds of the initial shots were firecrackers. Lee said he was about 15 feet from the suspected shooter when he opened fire from the front of the church.
“Once the assailant ran out of bullets and tried to refuel, our pastor grabbed a chair and knocked it down,” Lee said. “Then three or four boys came to help. A man took off his belt and tied it to a chair. Three or four people pushed him to the floor while the FBI and police came.”
At least two weapons have been seized from the suspect by parishioners, officials said.
A total of six people were shot dead, one deadly. The deceased victim has not been identified.
The victims, four men and a woman, are of Asian descent and between the ages of 66 and 92. They were all taken to local hospitals for treatment.
It is unclear what motivated the shooting. Investigators are working to determine whether Chow has anything to do with the Presbyterian Church in Geneva or the congregation.
“We do not currently know what the suspect’s motive may be, or whether he had a purpose, or even a hate incident,” OC Deputy Chief of Staff Jeff Hallock told a news conference on Sunday. “Traumatic intervention program members are also on site to provide crisis advice to those present.”
The FBI has joined this ongoing investigation.
“First of all, my deepest condolences to the families and victims here today, and also a heartfelt thank you to those present who are very courageous in their actions today,” said Christy Johnson, FBI’s assistant director for Los Angeles. “We have linguists who will come soon to help. We have our evidence response team ready, and we also have our Behavioral Analysis Unit present at the scene. “
“Obviously, the motive is always the question that determines the degree of involvement at the federal level or whether federal or local prosecution is prosecuted,” Johnson said. “And we are currently working very hard to determine the motive.” ATF is also helping with the investigation.
“Our agents have begun an emergency tracking of the firearms found,” said Stephen Galloway, assistant special agent in charge of ATF Los Angeles. “These traces are currently underway and will be thoroughly investigated once completed.”
Copyright © 2022 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
Add Comment