"The US Church Shooting Is a Hate Crime Between China and Taiwan"

Shooting Targeting Church Gathered with New Taiwanese Believers

On the 16th (local time), the Orange County Sheriff's Department in California, USA, released a photo of the suspect David Chou (68) in the mass shooting incident that occurred on the 15th at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods within their jurisdiction. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] The shooting incident at a church in California, USA, has been revealed to be a hate crime committed by a Chinese immigrant of Taiwanese descent targeting Taiwanese congregants.

According to major foreign media including the AP News, authorities announced on the 16th (local time) that the motive behind immigrant David Chou (68)'s shooting was hatred toward Taiwan. Don Barnes, the sheriff of Orange County, California, explained, "This incident stemmed from Chou's hatred toward Taiwan," adding, "Political factors such as the tense relationship between China and Taiwan also influenced the situation."

Authorities found a note expressing hatred toward Taiwanese people in Chou's vehicle. The AP News pointed out that Chou's parents were immigrants who moved from China to Taiwan, suggesting that the conflict and animosity between Chinese and indigenous Taiwanese dating back to the Chinese Civil War in 1948 may be the background of such hateful feelings.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a hate crime investigation into this case considering these factors. Chou is currently charged with murder and attempted murder.

Earlier, on the 15th, Chou purchased two pistols in Las Vegas and then drove to a church in Laguna Woods, California. He then opened fire on about 40 congregants. The shooting resulted in the death of Dr. John Cheng (52) and injuries to five elderly people aged between 60 and 90. Police stated that most of the congregants present at the church during the incident were of Taiwanese descent. At the time, the congregants were holding a welcome event for the former pastor's visit to the United States. The pastor had led the Taiwanese congregation in the U.S. for 20 years and had returned to Taiwan two years ago before coming back to the U.S.

According to the police, Chou, armed with a gun and Molotov cocktails, blocked the church door and indiscriminately fired at the congregants. Dr. Cheng rushed at the assailant to disarm him, and other congregants joined in to tie up Chou's arms and legs to subdue him. During this process, Cheng was shot and killed. Chou reportedly requested a lawyer's assistance after being arrested.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.