The Geneva Presbyterian Church is seen after a lethal capturing, in Laguna Woods, California, U.S. Might 15, 2022. (REUTERS/David Swanson)
A California prosecutor on Tuesday stated he wouldn’t rule out searching for the demise penalty towards a Chinese language-American man who harbored anti-Taiwanese sentiment and opened hearth at a church banquet, an assault that killed one and wounded 5 others.
The suspect, David Chou, 68, will face a single rely of homicide with a gun in reference to the Sunday assault, Orange County District Legal professional Todd Spitzer informed CNN. He additionally faces 5 counts of tried homicide and 4 counts of illegal possession of an explosive.
Spitzer stated the gunman introduced an arsenal of weaponry, together with explosives, incendiary units, and two semi-automatic weapons, to Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California, the place he focused folks gathering for a Taiwanese-American church banquet.
“That suspect was able to kill everyone in that church,” Spitzer stated. “It’s my perception that he was going to kill everyone after which blow up the church.”
The FBI stated it was opening a hate-crimes investigation within the case. Spitzer stated he might add a hate crime enhancement to the costs and can weigh whether or not he’ll search the demise penalty towards Chou, including that Governor Gavin Newsom has successfully put a moratorium on capital punishment. California’s final execution was in 2006.
“I’m going to need to weigh whether or not we are going to search life with out the potential for parole or demise. That’s a really, very solemn responsibility,” Spitzer stated.
The gunman chained the doorways so his victims couldn’t get out of the church, Spitzer stated, noting that he picked a susceptible neighborhood that features aged people.
As much as 40 folks, members of a Taiwanese Presbyterian congregation from close by Irvine, California, had been attending a luncheon honoring a former pastor when the capturing started, sheriff’s officers stated.
Chou is a US citizen and Las Vegas resident born in China. He drove to Southern California on Saturday and got here to the church on Sunday morning, authorities stated.
Spitzer stated the suspect was motivated by his anti-Taiwan beliefs. His household was from China, however he grew up in Taiwan. He was not handled properly in Taiwan, the place there was a number of anti-China sentiment on the time.
“Apparently he has carried that resentment his total childhood and grownup life,” he stated. “He took this church alternative to return after these church congregants mainly to return again and say I’m going to get even with the way in which I used to be handled.”
The sheriff’s division issued a press release late on Monday saying investigators had “decided that the suspect was upset about political tensions involving China and Taiwan” however didn’t elaborate.
Killed within the capturing was Dr. John Cheng. The 52-year-old was shot when he tackled the gunman, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes stated, crediting Cheng’s act of bravery with stopping extra fatalities.
Subduing Chou gave different congregants, together with a pastor, the chance to overpower him and tie his legs with {an electrical} twine, detaining him till sheriff’s deputies arrived.
4 males ranging in age from 66 to 92 and an 86-year-old girl had been wounded, the sheriff’s division stated.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen was deeply involved concerning the incident and has instructed the island’s international ministry to assist the victims and their households, the ministry stated on Tuesday.
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