In a sweeping new federal indictment, a Las Vegas man accused of killing one particular person and injuring 5 others final 12 months at a Taiwanese Presbyterian church in Orange County has been charged with hate crimes, homicide and tried homicide, prosecutors introduced Thursday.
David Chou, 69, was charged by a federal grand jury in Santa Ana with 98 counts for the Could 2022 taking pictures and tried bombing at Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods.
Chou, a former on line casino safety guard, is accused of killing John Cheng, 52, and making an attempt to kill 44 others with weapons and explosive gadgets. 5 folks have been injured by the gunfire.
Chou’s lethal assault was premised on the victims’ nationwide origin and faith, federal prosecutors alleged. If convicted on all counts, Chou may face the loss of life penalty or life imprisonment with out parole.
Chou, who has pleaded not responsible to associated state costs in Orange County, was charged within the federal case with 45 counts of obstructing the free train of non secular beliefs by pressure for killing one particular person and making an attempt to homicide 44 others.
The indictment additionally charged him with 45 counts of violating a federal hate crimes legislation by attacking church congregants due to their Taiwanese nationwide origin and Presbyterian religion.
Chou faces one depend of making an attempt to break or destroy a constructing with fireplace and explosives, one depend of carrying explosives in the course of the fee of a felony and 6 counts of utilizing a firearm throughout a criminal offense of violence.
It was not instantly clear whether or not Chou can be tried first on the state or federal costs. Chou’s lawyer couldn’t be reached.
Within the Orange County case, Chou faces state costs of homicide, tried homicide and different felonies. In that case, too, he may face the loss of life penalty if convicted. Orange County prosecutors have charged the homicide as a hate crime motivated by race, shade, faith, nationality or nation of origin.
A sidewalk memorial outdoors the Laguna Woods church the place a gunman shot six folks in Could 2022, killing certainly one of them and injuring the opposite 5.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Occasions)
The backdrop of each the state and federal instances is stress between China and Taiwan, which leaders in Beijing contemplate a breakaway province.
Chou left notes in his automotive saying Taiwan shouldn’t be unbiased from China, based on native legislation enforcement. Chou grew up in Taiwan as a waishengren — an individual with latest roots in China.
The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan is thought for its assist of pro-independence causes, and the Irvine congregation’s providers are within the Taiwanese dialect. The parishioners collect in house that the church rents at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods.
On Could 15, 2022, Orange County prosecutors say, Chou walked into the church with two 9-millimeter handguns and several other backpacks that contained additional magazines and 4 Molotov cocktails.
He allegedly chained a number of doorways shut, then mingled with parishioners at a luncheon earlier than opening fireplace, placing Cheng and 5 others, prosecutors say.
Cheng, a sports activities drugs physician, was not a church common however had introduced his mom to the luncheon, which honored a former longtime pastor.
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes has mentioned that Cheng charged on the shooter and tried to disarm him.
