One dead, four critically injured in California church shooting

LAGUNA WOODS (California) • A gunman who opened fire inside a Southern California church on Sunday, killing one person and critically wounding four others, was overpowered by congregants who hogtied him, preventing further bloodshed, authorities said.

Shortly before 1.30pm local time, parishioners were attending a banquet following a morning service at Geneva Presbyterian Church when the gunman began his rampage, authorities said.

There were 30 to 40 people inside the building in Laguna Woods, about 70km south-east of Los Angeles.

The churchgoers detained the shooter and "hogtied his legs with an extension cord and confiscated at least two weapons" before officers arrived at the scene to apprehend and arrest him, Orange County Undersheriff Jeff Hallock told a press conference.

"That group of churchgoers displayed what we believe is exceptional heroism, and bravery," Mr Hallock said. "They undoubtedly prevented additional injuries and fatalities."

"One person is confirmed deceased at the scene," Mr Hallock said. "Four others are critical and one other victim sustained minor injuries."

The victims were all of Taiwanese descent, Taipei's foreign ministry said, adding that it had "asked our representative office to express our most sincere and deepest condolences to those killed or injured in the shooting and their families".

According to the sheriff's department, the victims were aged between 66 and 92.

Two handguns were found at the scene.

Authorities yesterday identified the suspect as David Chou, 68, of Las Vegas, and booked him on one felony count of murder and five felony counts of attempted murder, the Orange County Sheriff's office said.

It was unclear what the suspect's motive was, who he intended to target or whether it was a hate-related crime, police said.

In a series of text messages on Sunday, the Reverend Albany Lee, who presides over Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church which is housed on the campus of Geneva Presbyterian Church, said congregants told him that the gunman "was a new face".

"No one recognises the shooter," Mr Lee said, adding that when a receptionist asked the person who he was, "he said he was here before".

Mr Lee said the person who subdued the gunman was a pastor who led the services on Sunday. That pastor, who was not injured, had "subdued the shooter before he loaded another round of bullets", he said. "Thank God."

The office of California Governor Gavin Newsom said it was working with local officials to monitor the situation.

"No one should have to fear going to their place of worship. Our thoughts are with the victims," the office tweeted.

Democratic Congresswoman Katie Porter, who represents Orange County, called the shooting "upsetting and disturbing news, especially less than a day after a mass shooting in Buffalo".

"This should not be our new normal," she said.

The latest shooting comes one day after an 18-year-old white suspect shot dead 10 people and wounded three others - almost all of them black - at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York state, in what officials are calling a "racist" rampage.

Mass shootings have become shockingly common in the United States, where past efforts at tightening gun laws have generally fallen short in the face of the nation's powerful firearms lobby - even after horrific massacres.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, NYTIMES, REUTERS