The man who opened fire Sunday at a church in California attended by the Taiwanese-American congregation, killing one and wounding five, was motivated by hatred of Taiwan.
The shooting left one dead and five wounded. The suspected shooter, David Chou, 68, was motivated by hatred of Taiwan and its people, police said Monday. He locked the doors and shoved glue through the locks of the church, where dozens of parishioners attended a banquet after the morning service in Laguna Woods, near Los Angeles.
“Methodical” attempt to make a carnage
He had also hidden bags of Molotov cocktails and spare ammunition around the building before opening fire with two handguns in what investigators say was a “methodical” attempt to wreak havoc. “We know he created the strategy that he wanted to implement,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. “It was very thoughtful because he prepared himself, was there, secured the place, placed objects in the room to cause other casualties when he had the opportunity,” he added.
Who is David Chou?
Las Vegas security official David Chou acted for “political and hate-motivated reasons (and) was angered by the political tensions between China and Taiwan.” “From what we found, we believe he specifically targeted the Taiwanese church and this Taiwanese Presbyterian Church is a representation of that church,” he explained. According to the sheriff, the man is an American citizen who immigrated from China.
Killed man named “Hero”
For his part, an official at the Taiwan Trade Mission in Los Angeles told AFP that he was born on the island in 1953. The man killed by the suspect was a 52-year-old doctor, John Cheng, who succumbed to the attackers in an attempt to disarm him and give the other community members time to neutralize him, specifically by tying him up with an extension cord.
Sheriff Barnes called Dr. Chen a “hero” without whom “there would undoubtedly have been more victims.” The doctor, who managed to subdue the suspect, was shot and his death was pronounced by emergency services when they arrived at the scene 92. The suspect was held in custody on $1 million bail.