David Chou, who was already charged with homicide and different counts for final month’s California church taking pictures, now faces hate crimes. The previous Las Vegas safety guard killed one individual and injured 5 others.
Parishioners on the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, Calif., restrain alleged shooter David Chou. He faces quite a few fees, together with hate crimes. (Picture: ABC Information/Frank Cheng)
Information of the extra cost was introduced Friday by prosecutors in Orange County California. He additionally was beforehand charged with 5 counts of tried homicide. Different fees embrace 4 counts of possession of an explosive machine, mendacity in wait, and private discharge of a firearm inflicting dying.
If convicted on all counts, Chou might face execution, the Los Angeles Occasions reported. He stays behind bars with out bail. Earlier this month, he appeared in Orange County Superior Courtroom.
Superior Courtroom Choose Cynthia Herrera delayed his arraignment till Aug. 19. He has but to enter a plea on the costs.
Hate Crime Defined
The hate crime fees require prosecutors show the defendant has sure motivations. When Chou allegedly killed Dr. John Cheng, 52, within the church throughout the Could 15 taking pictures, it was motivated by race, coloration, faith, nationality, or nation of origin, the Occasions reported, primarily based on statements by prosecutors. The taking pictures victims had been principally Asian and principally of Taiwanese descent, the Occasions added.
The shootings additionally had been a “politically motivated hate incident,” based on Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. Chou “particularly focused the Taiwanese group,” authorities claimed.
Chou doesn’t consider Taiwan ought to stay as an unbiased nation from China, authorities have revealed. Chou grew up in Taiwan, the Occasions added.
The taking pictures spree befell throughout a Taiwanese Presbyterian church luncheon held in Geneva Presbyterian Church, situated in Laguna Woods, Calif.
The Taiwanese congregation reportedly is in favor of Taiwanese independence. Companies on the church used a Taiwanese dialect in liturgy, as an alternative of the Mandarin Chinese language dialect, the Occasions added.
Chou was armed with two 9-millimeter handguns, extra ammo, and 4 Molotov cocktail-type explosives throughout the assault, the report provides. He chained doorways on the church.
When the taking pictures befell, Cheng and others on the lunch fought again. One individual used a chair to subdue Chou. Chou additionally was tied with {an electrical} twine till police arrived.
Ties to Las Vegas
Chou was as soon as a safety guard on the Las Vegas Strip, KSNV, an area TV station reported. It was not instantly recognized for certain the place he labored on the most important playing thoroughfare.
One supply informed the Occasions he labored for a corporation that supplied safety on the Sands and Venetian casinos.
He possessed a Nevada safety guard’s license, studies revealed. He labored for 5 safety firms in Nevada between 2014 and 2021, based on a doc printed by The Reporter Occasions.
Chou as soon as co-owned the residence constructing the place he lived, situated close to Twain Avenue and Decatur Boulevard, based on the Las Vegas Evaluation-Journal. He later bought it. Chou might have been residing in his automobile in latest months, KSNV reported.
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