A Las Vegas man was identified as the suspect in Sunday’s shooting that left one person dead and five others injured at a meeting of Asian churchgoers in Southern California, authorities said Monday.
David Chou, 68, has been booked into jail on one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder, according to a statement from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Chou was detained by members of the Geneva Presbyterian Church, who hogtied him with electrical extension cords, according to the sheriff’s department.
Undersheriff Jeff Hallock said at a press conference Sunday that congregants confiscated at least two handguns that were later seized by deputies.
Authorities are expected to release more information later Monday.
Sheriff’s officials said as many as 40 people who belong to the Taiwanese church were at the facility when gunfire broke out.
The gunfire was reported at Geneva Presbyterian Church at 1:26 p.m. in the retirement city of Laguna Woods, about 20 miles southeast of Anaheim, the sheriff’s department said.
Sheriff’s officials said as many as 40 people who belong to the Taiwanese church were at the facility at the time of the shooting.
Four victims suffered critical injuries, they said.
The sheriff’s department on Sunday night identified the injured as Asian Americans ranging in age from 66 to 92. Four are men. The identity of the deceased was being withheld pending notification of family.
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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.
Two people admitted to Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo Sunday after the shooting were reported to be in good condition Monday, according to a statement from the hospital.
Police sources stressed that the investigation was in its very preliminary stages and that they have not determined any motive.
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 honoring a former pastor of the congregation.
The organization “is deeply saddened by a fatal shooting that occurred at a lunch reception,” he said in a statement.
“Please keep the leadership of the Taiwanese congregation and Geneva in your prayers as they care for those traumatized by this shooting.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said agents based in Los Angeles were assisting sheriff’s investigators. The FBI also responded and is contributing to the investigation, the sheriff’s department said Sunday night.
Laguna Woods and Laguna Woods Village are relatively exclusive communities for people 55 and older and their companions or loved ones. Large parts of it, including the village, are gated.
The city is composed of single-family homes, town houses and apartment-style residences. It opened as Leisure World in 1964, and became the county’s 32nd city in 1999.
Authorities asked people to avoid the area, noting that multiple roads were closed.
On Friday, police in Dallas said they were looking for a person who might be targeting people of Asian background in a series of shootings.
Three Korean women were injured in a shooting at a hair salon Wednesday. Police Chief Eddie Garcia said the department was investigating the shooting as a hate crime.
Attacks against Asian Americans have skyrocketed in recent years.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
