The attack on predominantly Taiwanese churchgoers in California was apparently politically motivated. With their courageous intervention, the community members prevented even worse.
The deadly attack by a man on predominantly Taiwanese worshipers at a church in the US state of California was apparently politically motivated.
“It is believed that the suspect was upset by the political tensions between China and Taiwan,” Orange County Sheriff Donald Barnes said, according to media reports. The perpetrator was probably targeting Taiwanese society. The suspect, a 68-year-old US citizen from Las Vegas, immigrated from China years ago. He was arrested and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
A gunman killed one person and wounded five others with gunshots, four of them seriously, at a church in Laguna Woods south of Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. Parishioners from the church overpowered the alleged perpetrator. The service was mainly Taiwanese, a total of around 50 people, it was said.
Suspect acted alone
Barnes said it is believed the suspect acted alone and had no direct connection to the church or any member of the church. Apparently, the parishioners prevented even worse: Barnes said the suspect secured the doors of the church from the inside before he started shooting. He also had a bag of Molotov cocktails and a bag of extra ammo. Prosecutors are considering charging the suspect Tuesday with one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
China regards democratic Taiwan as its own territory and threatens to conquer it. Beijing is also trying to isolate Taiwan internationally.
A gunman opened fire in a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, on Saturday, killing at least ten people. The investigators assume a racist motive. The crime caused widespread outrage across the country. On (today) Tuesday, US President Joe Biden wants to visit the town in northwest New York State. The White House said he wanted to mourn there with his wife Jill and the community.