LAGUNA WOODS, Calif.—An investigation continued Monday, May 16, to determine the reason an Asian man allegedly shot one man to death and wounded five others at a predominantly Taiwanese Laguna Woods church Sunday, May 15, before congregants tackled and hogtied him with an extension cord.
David Wenwei Chou, 68, of Las Vegas, Nevada was booked on suspicion of one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD). He is being held on a $1-million bail.
Four of the victims remain hospitalized in critical condition, authorities said.
“That group of churchgoers displayed what we believe is exceptional heroism and bravery,” Orange County Undersheriff Jeff Hallock said from the scene, adding, “It’s safe to say that had they not intervened, this situation could have been much worse.”
According to the sheriff’s department’s description, the five wounded victims are four men—respectively 66, 92, 82, and 75-year-old—and an 86-year-old woman.
The deceased victim was described only as a man.
None of their names have been released, but authorities planned to conduct a news conference at noon Monday to provide an update on the investigation.
The OCSD said the shooting happened around 1:25 p.m. Sunday inside Geneva Presbyterian Church at 24301 El Toro Road.
“Four victims have been critically wounded, one with minor injuries. All victims are adults, and are en route to the hospital. One victim is deceased at the scene,” the department said.
Hallock said a large number of the people inside the church during the shooting were of Taiwanese descent. The attack happened during a banquet following the morning service and churchgoers detained the man, tying him up with an extension cord.
Two handguns were taken from the attacker, now identified as Chou. His motive was not clear, but Chou was taken into custody at the scene, Hallock said.
It was unclear whether Chou had any connections to the church or its congregants, the sheriff’s department said in a press release.
“We are committed to fully investigating and sharing as much information as possible while maintaining the integrity of the investigation,” the sheriff’s department tweeted.
Congregant Jerry Chen, 72, told the Los Angeles Times he was in a nearby kitchen at the church just before 1:30 p.m. Sunday when he heard the shots.
“I heard the gun sounds,” he said. “Then, I heard two or three more gunshots. He was just randomly shooting.”
Chen told the LA Times he then saw the pastor, Billy Chang, hit the gunman with a chair when the shooter paused to reload his weapon. That’s when other members of the congregation tackled him.
The Los Angeles branch of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) sent special agents to Laguna Woods to assist the OCSD with its investigation.
Stephen Galloway, the assistant special agent in charge of the Los Angeles office, said the agency has placed an emergency trace on the handguns recovered at the scene. The trace was sent to the ATF’s office in West Virginia and should return quickly to the ATF’s local field office in Orange County. Once they get the trace information, the next step will be to identify the dealers who sold the man his handguns, Galloway said.
Kristi Johnson, agent in charge of the local FBI office, said the bureau was providing extra resources to assist the sheriff’s department in their investigation. “Right now we are working very hard to provide a motive for the shooting. This is critically important.”
The bureau’s Behavioral Analysis Unit was on scene.
Laguna Woods is a “relatively exclusive [community] for people 55 and older,” according to NBC News. “It opened as Leisure World in 1964. It became the county’s 32nd city in 1999.”
Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett of the Fifth District said the board was making sure mental health professionals would be made available to those impacted by the shooting.
El Toro Road was closed between Calle Sonora and Canyon Wren, and people were urged to avoid the area.
“A shooting at a church in Laguna Woods has left multiple people injured and one deceased. This is upsetting and disturbing news, especially less than a day after a mass shooting in Buffalo,” said Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine), whose district includes Laguna Woods. “This should not be our new normal. I will work hard to support the victims and their families.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office tweeted the following statement:
“We are actively monitoring the shooting at a church in Laguna Woods and working closely with local law enforcement. No one should have to fear going to their place of worship. Our thoughts are with the victims, community, and all those impacted by this tragic event.”
The shooting came one day after a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, was targeted by a heavily armed shooter who killed 10 people and wounded three others. Authorities arrested an 18-year-old man in that crime, which they said was racially motivated. Eleven of the 13 victims were Black.
Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine) issued a statement extending his “thoughts and prayers,” adding, “It is almost unthinkable that one of the safest places in the country would be hit by the specter of gun violence.”
“We should refuse to accept these tragedies as the new normal in our schools, our houses of worship or anywhere,” Min said.
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