LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. - Officials in Orange County released new details about the suspected gunman who opened fire inside a church in Laguna Woods on Sunday afternoon, saying they believe the shooting was a "politically motivated hate incident." "I will tell you that evil was in that church yesterday," Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told reporters Monday.The suspected gunman was identified by authorities Monday as 68-year-old David Chou, who is a resident of Las Vegas.
After he was detained at the scene Sunday, he was booked on one felony count of murder and five felony counts of attempted murder, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said Dr. John Cheng "sacrificed himself so that others could live."Chou is eligible for life without the possibility of parole, or death, according to Spitzer, who said he was at the scene to assess "whether we pursue or seek death with respect to hate crimes."Authorities said the attack was likely motivated by hate for Taiwanese people."There's a lot of evidence that absolutely at this point in time indicates that the suspect had an absolute bias against the Taiwanese people," Spitzer said.Authorities said that Chou left notes in his vehicle that detailed his hatred for the Taiwanese community.
Investigators believe his alleged hatred of Taiwan manifested when he was residing there in previous years, possibly in his youth. "He was not well received while living there, according to what we believe we've collected so far.