Suspect Charged After One Killed, Five Injured in Laguna Woods Church Shooting
24301 El Toro Rd, Laguna Woods
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Summary
- Federal officials opened a hate crime investigation into Sunday’s shooting at a Laguna Woods, California church, officials said Monday afternoon.
- A total of six people were shot. One victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. Five others were hospitalized.
- As of Monday afternoon, two were in stable condition and two were in good condition. There was no update on the fifth patient’s condition.
- The 68-year-old suspect acted alone in an isolated, politically motivated attack, officials said.
- Police do not believe the suspect had connections or affiliations to the church, its members, or any of the victims.
- He is a U.S. citizen who emigrated from China a number of years ago, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. He was allegedly upset about tensions between China and Taiwan and was targeting Taiwanese nationals, authorities said. He drove to the area from his Las Vegas residence.
- On Monday morning, officials announced he had been charged with one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
- The District Attorney said they were contemplating additional charges related to the incendiary devices. Also under consideration is the addition of "lying in wait" to the murder charge, as additional ammunition and weapons were hidden behind a curtain.
- Charges related to hate crimes will be considered following the FBI's federal hate crime investigation.
- Authorities said Monday afternoon that the suspect targeted a post-service banquet attended by 40 to 50 members of the Taiwanese Presbyterian Church. The congregation meets at the Geneva Presbyterian Church at 24301 El Toro Road. The banquet was to celebrate a pastor who had returned from a mission trip to Taiwan.
- Police were called to the scene around 1:26 p.m. Sunday. Officials said according to their preliminary investigation, the suspect chained the church doors shut, nailed at least one door closed, and used superglue to tamper with locks.
- The suspect then opened fire.
- Officials praised 52-year-old Dr. John Cheng, who was killed when he charged and tackled the shooter.
- Dr. Cheng “is a hero” who prevented “numerous additional victims,” Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said.
- His actions allowed other churchgoers to jump in, officials said. A pastor threw a chair at the suspect and churchgoers disarmed and tied up the suspect before police arrived.
- Parishioners tied up the suspect before law enforcement arrived. He was not injured.
- Sheriff’s deputies who first arrived on scene gave first aid. Soon after, Orange County Fire Authority medics arrived and began advanced life-saving measures.
- Several bags of ammunition and several Molotov cocktail-style incendiary devices were found in the church.
- Federal officials said Monday afternoon they had opened a hate crime investigation and were considering federal charges. Local prosecutors are considering adding a hate crime enhancement to their charges, officials said.
- The suspect legally purchased his guns in Las Vegas, an ATF spokesperson said.
- Authorities asked for patience in the ongoing investigation.
Timeline
In a press briefing Monday afternoon, officials said the suspect drove from his Las Vegas home to target Taiwanese victims for political reasons. Hate crime charges are possible following an investigation.
Officials shared updates in a Sunday evening press conference. All victims were adults, officials said.
Officials closed El Toro Road from Calle Sonora to Canyon Wren Lane.
One person was pronounced deceased at the location, which officials confirm is Geneva Presbyterian.
One victim had minor injuries, officials stated.
Four people were critically injured, officials confirmed.
Unconfirmed initial radio reports from the scene indicate there were four people critically injured.
The shooting was reportedly at Geneva Presbyterian Church, according to KABC.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 24301 El Toro Rd.
Sheriff's deputies recovered a weapon that may have been used in the shooting, the sheriff's office tweeted.
It is not clear how many people were hurt.
Several people were injured in a shooting at at church. Police detained a suspect, according to a tweet from the Orange County Sheriff.
Incident reported at 24000 Block of El Toro Rd.
In a press briefing Monday afternoon, officials said the suspect drove from his Las Vegas home to target Taiwanese victims for political reasons. Hate crime charges are possible following an investigation.
Officials shared updates in a Sunday evening press conference. All victims were adults, officials said.
Officials closed El Toro Road from Calle Sonora to Canyon Wren Lane.
One person was pronounced deceased at the location, which officials confirm is Geneva Presbyterian.
One victim had minor injuries, officials stated.
Four people were critically injured, officials confirmed.
Unconfirmed initial radio reports from the scene indicate there were four people critically injured.
The shooting was reportedly at Geneva Presbyterian Church, according to KABC.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 24301 El Toro Rd.
Sheriff's deputies recovered a weapon that may have been used in the shooting, the sheriff's office tweeted.
It is not clear how many people were hurt.
Several people were injured in a shooting at at church. Police detained a suspect, according to a tweet from the Orange County Sheriff.
Incident reported at 24000 Block of El Toro Rd.
In a press briefing Monday afternoon, officials said the suspect drove from his Las Vegas home to target Taiwanese victims for political reasons. Hate crime charges are possible following an investigation.
Officials shared updates in a Sunday evening press conference. All victims were adults, officials said.
Officials closed El Toro Road from Calle Sonora to Canyon Wren Lane.
One person was pronounced deceased at the location, which officials confirm is Geneva Presbyterian.
One victim had minor injuries, officials stated.
Four people were critically injured, officials confirmed.
Unconfirmed initial radio reports from the scene indicate there were four people critically injured.
The shooting was reportedly at Geneva Presbyterian Church, according to KABC.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 24301 El Toro Rd.
Sheriff's deputies recovered a weapon that may have been used in the shooting, the sheriff's office tweeted.
It is not clear how many people were hurt.
Several people were injured in a shooting at at church. Police detained a suspect, according to a tweet from the Orange County Sheriff.
Incident reported at 24000 Block of El Toro Rd.
In a press briefing Monday afternoon, officials said the suspect drove from his Las Vegas home to target Taiwanese victims for political reasons. Hate crime charges are possible following an investigation.
Officials shared updates in a Sunday evening press conference. All victims were adults, officials said.
Officials closed El Toro Road from Calle Sonora to Canyon Wren Lane.
One person was pronounced deceased at the location, which officials confirm is Geneva Presbyterian.
One victim had minor injuries, officials stated.
Four people were critically injured, officials confirmed.
Unconfirmed initial radio reports from the scene indicate there were four people critically injured.
The shooting was reportedly at Geneva Presbyterian Church, according to KABC.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 24301 El Toro Rd.
Sheriff's deputies recovered a weapon that may have been used in the shooting, the sheriff's office tweeted.
It is not clear how many people were hurt.
Several people were injured in a shooting at at church. Police detained a suspect, according to a tweet from the Orange County Sheriff.
Incident reported at 24000 Block of El Toro Rd.
In a press briefing Monday afternoon, officials said the suspect drove from his Las Vegas home to target Taiwanese victims for political reasons. Hate crime charges are possible following an investigation.
Officials shared updates in a Sunday evening press conference. All victims were adults, officials said.
Officials closed El Toro Road from Calle Sonora to Canyon Wren Lane.
One person was pronounced deceased at the location, which officials confirm is Geneva Presbyterian.
One victim had minor injuries, officials stated.
Four people were critically injured, officials confirmed.
Unconfirmed initial radio reports from the scene indicate there were four people critically injured.
The shooting was reportedly at Geneva Presbyterian Church, according to KABC.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 24301 El Toro Rd.
Sheriff's deputies recovered a weapon that may have been used in the shooting, the sheriff's office tweeted.
It is not clear how many people were hurt.
Several people were injured in a shooting at at church. Police detained a suspect, according to a tweet from the Orange County Sheriff.
Incident reported at 24000 Block of El Toro Rd.
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Looking at these comment it make me realize how utterly ignorant and heartless most Of you are!
@Pdub60 Like tweets and FB posts, anonymous social media posts don’t accurately reflect our society’s level of education.
Haha the people saying don’t blame god, blame the devil. How about blame the crazy person that did this.
@LagunaHills92653 Murder by gun violence would still go down, if we’re just thinking statistically. Proximity to a gun does increase your chances of being killed by it. Fewer deaths is always better than more deaths. There will never be no deaths, doesn’t mean changes are fruitless.
I could never understand how the shooter is willing to kill innocent lives but as soon as the cops arrove they surrender cowards
@BaltazarValadez arrived
Sometimes one high profile mass murder event is followed by others. One nut triggers others to act.
@ericgbostrom The Devil acts a dog gone fooool in 3’s it seems like. FIRST it was that Knucklehead on The Subway shooting About a few weeks ago.😞
Looking at these comment it make me realize how utterly ignorant and heartless most Of you are!
@Pdub60 Like tweets and FB posts, anonymous social media posts don’t accurately reflect our society’s level of education.
Haha the people saying don’t blame god, blame the devil. How about blame the crazy person that did this.
@LagunaHills92653 Murder by gun violence would still go down, if we’re just thinking statistically. Proximity to a gun does increase your chances of being killed by it. Fewer deaths is always better than more deaths. There will never be no deaths, doesn’t mean changes are fruitless.
I could never understand how the shooter is willing to kill innocent lives but as soon as the cops arrove they surrender cowards
@BaltazarValadez arrived
Sometimes one high profile mass murder event is followed by others. One nut triggers others to act.
@ericgbostrom The Devil acts a dog gone fooool in 3’s it seems like. FIRST it was that Knucklehead on The Subway shooting About a few weeks ago.😞
Looking at these comment it make me realize how utterly ignorant and heartless most Of you are!
@Pdub60 Like tweets and FB posts, anonymous social media posts don’t accurately reflect our society’s level of education.
Haha the people saying don’t blame god, blame the devil. How about blame the crazy person that did this.
@LagunaHills92653 Murder by gun violence would still go down, if we’re just thinking statistically. Proximity to a gun does increase your chances of being killed by it. Fewer deaths is always better than more deaths. There will never be no deaths, doesn’t mean changes are fruitless.
I could never understand how the shooter is willing to kill innocent lives but as soon as the cops arrove they surrender cowards
@BaltazarValadez arrived
Sometimes one high profile mass murder event is followed by others. One nut triggers others to act.
@ericgbostrom The Devil acts a dog gone fooool in 3’s it seems like. FIRST it was that Knucklehead on The Subway shooting About a few weeks ago.😞
Looking at these comment it make me realize how utterly ignorant and heartless most Of you are!
@Pdub60 Like tweets and FB posts, anonymous social media posts don’t accurately reflect our society’s level of education.
Haha the people saying don’t blame god, blame the devil. How about blame the crazy person that did this.
@LagunaHills92653 Murder by gun violence would still go down, if we’re just thinking statistically. Proximity to a gun does increase your chances of being killed by it. Fewer deaths is always better than more deaths. There will never be no deaths, doesn’t mean changes are fruitless.
I could never understand how the shooter is willing to kill innocent lives but as soon as the cops arrove they surrender cowards
@BaltazarValadez arrived
Sometimes one high profile mass murder event is followed by others. One nut triggers others to act.
@ericgbostrom The Devil acts a dog gone fooool in 3’s it seems like. FIRST it was that Knucklehead on The Subway shooting About a few weeks ago.😞
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Looking at these comment it make me realize how utterly ignorant and heartless most Of you are!
@Pdub60 Like tweets and FB posts, anonymous social media posts don’t accurately reflect our society’s level of education.
Haha the people saying don’t blame god, blame the devil. How about blame the crazy person that did this.
@LagunaHills92653 Murder by gun violence would still go down, if we’re just thinking statistically. Proximity to a gun does increase your chances of being killed by it. Fewer deaths is always better than more deaths. There will never be no deaths, doesn’t mean changes are fruitless.
I could never understand how the shooter is willing to kill innocent lives but as soon as the cops arrove they surrender cowards
@BaltazarValadez arrived
Sometimes one high profile mass murder event is followed by others. One nut triggers others to act.
@ericgbostrom The Devil acts a dog gone fooool in 3’s it seems like. FIRST it was that Knucklehead on The Subway shooting About a few weeks ago.😞