Before a pastor smashed the gunman in the head with a chair and parishioners hog-tied him with electrical wires, a man opened fire during a lunch reception at a Southern California church, killing one person and wounded five senior people.
Around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jerry Chen had just entered the kitchen of his church’s fellowship hall when he heard gunshots.
Chen, 72, a longstanding member of Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, peered over the corner and observed churchgoers yelling, running, and ducking beneath tables.
He said, “I knew someone was shooting.” “I was terrified to death.”I dashed out the kitchen door to dial 911.
Officials claimed the gunman killed one man and injured five senior residents before worshippers hog-tied his legs with an electrical cable until deputies arrived. Four of the five victims who were shot were critically injured.
While the cause for the shooting at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods was not immediately revealed, police think the gunman — an Asian guy in his 60s whose identity was not given — does not live in the area.
Chen, who dialed 911 from the church’s parking lot, claimed he was so shocked that he couldn’t tell the dispatcher where he was.
He explained, “I had to ask someone else for the address.”
After morning service, roughly 40 parishioners met in the fellowship hall for a luncheon to greet their former Pastor Billy Chang. He had served the church for 20 years and was a popular and respected community member, according to Chen. Chang returned to Taiwan almost two years ago. Chen stated that this was his first trip back to the United States.
He explained, “Everyone had just eaten lunch.” “They were photographing Pastor Chang.” I went into the kitchen after finishing my lunch.”
When he heard gunfire, he bolted outside.
Chen claimed he learned the facts of what transpired inside from others who came out shortly after. According to Chen, when the gunman came to a halt to reload, Pastor Chang smacked him in the head with a chair while others rushed to retrieve his rifle. Chen stated that they then subdued him and bound him.
He described Chang and the others as “amazingly brave.” “This is heartbreaking. I never imagined something like this happening in my church or town.”
According to Chen, the majority of the church’s members are senior Taiwanese immigrants with advanced degrees.
“We’re largely retirees, and our church’s average age is 80,” he explained.
Undersheriff Jeff Hallock of Orange County applauded the parishioners’ swift work in apprehending the assailant.
“We believe the churchgoers demonstrated extraordinary gallantry and bravery in acting to halt the suspect.”They probably saved lives and prevented more casualties,” Hallock said. “I believe it is safe to assume that things could have turned out far worse if people hadn’t intervened.”
The shooting occurred just one day after an 18-year-old man opened fire at a supermarket in Buffalo, killing ten people.
Laguna Woods began as a senior living community before expanding into a city. More than 80% of the folks in this 18,000-person city 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles are over 65. The shooting happened near a number of places of worship, including Catholic, Lutheran, and Methodist churches, as well as a Jewish synagogue.
According to Hallock, the probe was still in its early stages. He stated the assailant attended the church service, if he was known to church members, and how many shots were fired are among the many unanswered issues.
According to Carrie Braun, a sheriff’s spokesperson, the majority of persons inside the church at the time were of Taiwanese heritage.
According to the sheriff’s department, four Asian men, ages 66, 75, 82, and 92, and an 86-year-old Asian woman were among those injured by bullets. Only four of the five surviving victims had been shot, according to authorities.
Officials did not provide any information on the alleged shooter right away.
According to a statement from the Presbytery of Los Ranchos, a church administrative body, the afternoon lunch celebration was intended to honor a former pastor of the Taiwanese congregation.
In a message on Facebook, the presbytery’s Tom Cramer stated, “Please keep the leadership of the Taiwanese congregation and Geneva in your prayers as they care for individuals traumatized by this shooting.”
The governor’s office indicated on Twitter that he was keeping a close eye on the issue.
“No one should be afraid of visiting their place of worship.” “Our hearts go out to the victims, the community, and everyone who has been affected by this awful occurrence,” the tweet added.
Geneva Presbyterian Church’s aim is to “remember, tell, and practice the way of Jesus by being just, loving, and humble,” according to its website.
“Everyone is welcome here. We really mean it! … Geneva strives to be a welcoming congregation that worships, learns, connects, gives, and serves together.”
The deadliest shooting inside a church occurred in Sutherland Springs, Texas, in 2017, when a gunman opened fire during a Sunday service at First Baptist Church, killing over two dozen people.
During the closing prayer of a 2015 Bible study session at Charleston’s Mother Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina, Dylann Roof fired dozens of rounds. Roof became the first person in the United States to be condemned to death for a federal hate crime after nine members of the Black congregation were killed in the racist violence. His case is still pending before the Supreme Court.
