Suspect in OC Church Shooting Was Licensed Security Guard in Nevada

The Las Vegas man accused of gunning down six individuals at a Taiwanese-American church luncheon in Orange County on Sunday was licensed to work as a safety guard who carries a gun, state data in Nevada present.

David Chou was set to be arraigned on Tuesday in Orange County on fees of homicide and tried homicide for allegedly killing a beloved native physician and wounding 5 others.

He had labored for 3 totally different Las Vegas safety corporations since 2018, data seen by Reuters present, and was licensed to hold a gun in his work by way of October 2022.

Chou, who was being held at Orange County Central Jail on $1 million bond, drove 300 miles on Saturday from Las Vegas to Southern California, closely armed with two semi-automatic weapons and quite a few incendiary units, police stated.

He attended a church luncheon {that a} Taiwanese Presbyterian congregation was holding at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, a group of largely retired individuals, earlier than opening fireplace.

An official from the Taipei Financial and Cultural Workplace in Los Angeles, the Taiwan authorities’s workplace there, informed Reuters that Chou had been born in Taiwan in 1953, nonetheless had an lively Taiwan passport, and had performed navy service for Taiwan.

However prosecutors say he hated Taiwan and had notes written in Mandarin in his automotive indicating that he was offended about present tensions between island nation and the Chinese language mainland.

Chinese language authorities spokesman Liu Pengyu stated his nation condemned incidents of violence, however urged individuals to not speculate on Chou’s motives till extra was identified.

“We specific our condolences to the victims and honest sympathy to the bereaved households and the injured,” Pengyu stated. “We want the injured an early restoration.”

Orange County District Legal professional Todd Spitzer stated he was strongly contemplating asking for the demise penalty within the case, though California has not executed a prisoner in additional than a decade.

“That suspect was able to kill all people in that church,” Spitzer stated on CNN Tuesday. “It’s my perception that he was going to kill all people after which blow up the church.”

FBI Opens Hate-Crime Investigation

The FBI stated it was opening a hate-crimes investigation within the case. Spitzer stated at a information briefing on Tuesday that he’s including an enhancement of mendacity in wait to the fees towards Chou, and is contemplating additionally including a hate crime enhancement.

As much as 40 individuals, members of a Taiwanese Presbyterian congregation from close by Irvine have been attending a luncheon honoring a former pastor when the capturing started, sheriff’s officers stated.

Dr. John Cheng, 52, who was killed within the incident, 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} wire, detaining him till sheriff’s deputies arrived.

4 males ranging in age from 66 to 92 and an 86-year-old lady have 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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