2022 Laguna Woods shooting: Difference between revisions

2022 Laguna Woods shooting
2022 Laguna Woods shooting
Part of mass shootings in the United States
Location	24301 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, Orange County, California, United States
Coordinates	33°36′35″N 117°44′00″W / 33.60964°N 117.73338°W
Date	May 15, 2022 ; c. 1:26 p.m. (PDT)
Attack type	Mass shooting
Weapons	Two handguns
Deaths	1
Injured	5
Motive	Anti-Taiwanese sentiment (suspected)
Accused	David Chou
Charges	Murder (1 count); Attempted murder (5 counts); Possession of explosive device (4 counts); *Hate crime enhancement

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The Laguna Woods shooting was a mass shooting that occurred on May 15, 2022, at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California, United States. The church in Orange County was hosting a congregation of the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church for Sunday services. The shooter killed one person and wounded five others.^[1]^[2] A suspect, 68-year-old David Chou of Las Vegas, was arrested at the scene. Authorities allege that the crime was committed out of a political hatred of Taiwan and the Taiwanese people.^[3]^[4] Chou has been charged with one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder, all with hate crime enhancements, and four counts of possessing an explosive device.^[5]^[6]

Shooting

The shooter attacked during a luncheon after the church service.^[7] There were between 30 and 40 people inside the church at the time.^[8]

At around 10:10 a.m. local time, a man entered the sanctuary. The receptionist, who did not recognize him, welcomed him and asked him to fill out a form with his personal details. He refused, claiming to have completed the form in the past.^[9] Witnesses said he mingled with other attendees^[10] and spoke to them in Taiwanese Hokkien.^[11] Pastor Billy Chang said the man sat in the back of the sanctuary and was reading a newspaper throughout the entire sermon.^[7]

After the service, the church goers gathered in a separate hall for a luncheon in Chang's honor, and some guests who left early saw the shooter attempting to lock the doors with chains. While some asked what he was doing, others assumed he was a security officer.^[7]^[12] The shooter shot first into the ceiling, with many assuming it was a balloon popping instead of gunfire. Some attendees dropped to the floor and crawled under tables before, an attendee, John Cheng, charged the shooter and tried to disarm him but was in turn shot and killed.^[13]^[7] As the shooter attempted to reload his weapon, Chang hit the shooter on the head with a chair.^[12]^[14] Following which, several attendees tackled him and then hogtied him with an extension cord and confiscated two handguns, which were recovered by police.^[14]^[15]^[16] After he complained, those holding the shooter down eased up on the force of restraint to allow him to breathe.^[17]

Police were alerted at about 1:26 p.m.^[15] The doors were chained shut and their locks glued. Four items similar to Molotov cocktails were stored inside.^[3]

Victims

52-year-old John Cheng (Chinese: 鄭達志; pinyin: Zhèng Dázhì) was killed after trying to stop the shooter. He was a sports medicine physician based in Laguna Niguel^[13]^[18] and married with a son and a daughter.^[19] Five other victims, all of Taiwanese descent and aged between 66 and 92, were also shot but survived their injuries.^[4] Four of them are male and one is an 86-year-old female.^[18]

Investigation

Investigators from Orange County’s Sheriff and District Attorney’s office and the FBI described the shooting as one that was motivated by hatred against Taiwan and Taiwanese people.^[20]^[21]^[22]^[23] Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said that handwritten notes recovered from a vehicle that allegedly belonged to Chou recorded his belief that Taiwan should not be independent from China and his "hatred for the Taiwanese people", which, Barnes surmised, stemmed from the fact that Chou was “not well-received” when he was living in Taiwan.^[24]^[25]^[26]

Accused

David Wenwei Chou was born in 1953^[27] in Taiwan as a second-generation waishengren and raised in a military dependents' village^[28]^[29] near Taichung alongside four siblings.^[30] He graduated from the Taichung First Senior High School in 1971^[31] and completed a master's degree in the U.S. during the 1990s.^[29] In 1994, he was a lecturer at the National Pingtung Institute of Commerce for one year.^[32]

In 2009, Chou moved to Las Vegas and worked as a landlord with his wife.^[33] In the mid 2010s Chou was almost beaten to death by two tenants who were in arrears; the attack left him with scars all over his body and a distrust of police as he suspected they deliberately withheld one of his bags which contained money during the course of their investigation.^[34]^[35] In 2021 Chou sold the property he and his wife owned, rented out and lived in amidst a divorce and his wife’s terminal cancer diagnosis, which resulted in her leaving Chou to return to Taiwan.^[36]^[34] Chou continued to live in the property as a tenant but was evicted in March 2022 by the new owner as he was unable to afford the rent^[36] although he was able to find residence in a four-bedroom home in Las Vegas in February.^[37] Balmore Orellana, a former tenant and neighbour of Chou, described him as a considerate landlord whose mental condition grew increasingly unstable. In addition to his divorce and the tenant attack, Orellana said the tenants who moved into Chou’s old unit found photographs of him at a memorial for the 2017 Las Vegas shooting posing with a gun and laughing hysterically, and heard from neighbors that he was caught breaking into his old mailbox a month after his eviction.^[36] ^[37]^[34]

Views

Chou had expressed views against the Taiwanese and American governments. In an interview with the Associated Press, a roommate of Chou recalled a conversation they had two weeks prior to the shooting in which Chou described the Taiwanese government as corrupt, and disliked Taiwanese who supported it.^[38]^[39] Other acquaintances who knew Chou through a Taiwanese association in Las Vegas which he used to frequent recalled his dissatisfaction with the U.S. government which stemmed from his encounter with law enforcement in the aftermath of the tenant attack.^[40]

In addition Chou held anti Taiwanese independence views and had links to the pro-unification movement. The pan Blue newspaper World Journal said they had received a manifesto written and sent to them by Chou entitled Diary of the Independence-Slaying Angel (滅獨天使日記) one day after shooting, which they decided against publishing and turned over to the police.^[41]^[42] In 2019 Chou attended the founding ceremony of the Las Vegas chapter of the National Association for China's Peaceful Unification where he held up a banner which called for the “eradication of pro independence demons.”^[43]^[44]^[45]^[33]^[46]

Legal proceedings

Chou has been held without bail. Prosecutors initially charged Chou with one count of murder, five counts of premeditated attempted murder, four counts of possession of an explosive device, and enhancement charges of lying in wait and personal discharge of a firearm causing death.^[47] On June 17 prosecutors added hate crime enhancements to the murder and attempted murder charges.^[48]^[6] If convicted, Chou faces either the death penalty or life imprisonment.^[10]^[9]

Reactions

Sheriff Barnes commended Cheng as a heroic figure who prevented the shooter from hurting more people.^[4] U.S. Representative Katie Porter, whose district includes Laguna Woods, referred to an earlier shooting in Buffalo, New York and said, "This should not be our new normal. I will work hard to support the victims and their families."^[49]

Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen condemned the shooting, and offered condolences to the victims.^[50] She asked for the political representatives in the US to fly to California to provide assistance. Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's de facto ambassador, posted on Twitter that she was "shocked and saddened by the fatal shooting at the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in California", and she expressed she would mourn together with the Taiwanese-American community and families of the victims.^[51] The Taiwanese Kuomintang issued a statement condemning the shooting.^[24]

Some have attributed the shooting to Beijing’s increasingly belligerent rhetoric on the issue of cross strait unification.^[24]^[52]^[53] In Taiwan, DPP legislator Lin Ching-yi attributed the shooting to “genocidal ideology”, and 60 civic groups called for countries around the world to designate the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification as a terrorist organization.^[54]

Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for China's ministry of foreign affairs, said "[w]e hope the US government can take action against its increasingly severe gun violence problem".^[24] Chinese Embassy in Washington spokesperson Liu Pengyu said: "We express our condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured."^[12]

On May 21, local elected officials and religious leaders gathered at the church to memorialize and honor the victims of the shooting. A moment of silence was held for Dr. Cheng. Representative Young Kim stated that there was no place in the community and society for any type of hate and that the community needed to stand together.^[55]

In June, Representatives Katie Porter and Michelle Steel proposed a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to John Cheng.^[56]

References

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^ "Five Injured, One Dead in Shooting at Laguna Woods Church; Suspected Shooter in Custody". KNBC. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Bernstein, Sharon; Hay, Andrew (May 16, 2022). "California church shooter was motivated by hate, politics". Reuters. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c "California church shooter was motivated by hatred for Taiwan, China-Taiwan tensions". The Straits Times. Singapore. May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
^ Von Quednow, Cindy (May 17, 2022). "Accused O.C. church shooter charged with 10 counts, including murder". KTLA. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Hate Crime Allegation Added to Charges in Deadly OC Church Shooting". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Branson-Potts, Hailey; Fry, Hannah; Ormseth, Matthew (May 19, 2022). "Inside the Laguna Woods church shooting: A stranger lurking, 'evil' and heroes rising". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
^ Tebor, Celina; Hayes, Christal (May 15, 2022). "'Exceptional heroism': California churchgoers stopped rampage, hogtied suspect after deadly shooting". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Cabrera, Tony (May 17, 2022). "Las Vegas man accused in deadly shooting at Orange County church set to appear in court". ABC7 Los Angeles. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Von Quednow, Cindy (May 16, 2022). "'Heinous crime': O.C. shooting suspect secured church doors with chains, placed explosives at scene: Sheriff". KTLA. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
^ Fry, Hannah; Winton, Richard; Park, Jeong; Money, Luke (May 16, 2022). "Laguna Woods shooting was a hate crime targeting Taiwanese people, sheriff says". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022. Some said that Chou spoke to them in Taiwanese before opening fire
^ ^a ^b ^c "Authorities: Hate against Taiwanese led to church attack". The Washington Post. Associated Press. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Deadly shooting at California church a 'hate incident' against Taiwanese community, authorities say". USA Today. May 16, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Fry, Hannah (May 16, 2022). "Pastor hit gunman with chair to stop attack at Laguna Woods church, worshiper says". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Laguna Woods shooting - live: Churchgoers 'hogtied' shooter with power cord after one killed and five injured". The Independent. May 2022. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
^ Blankstein, Andrew; Dienst, Jonathan; Romero, Dennis (May 15, 2022). "1 dead, 5 injured, man detained in shooting at California Asian church reception". NBC News. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
^ Chang, Hetty (May 17, 2022). "Pastor Throws Chair at Laguna Woods Mass Shooting Suspect, Then Wife Ties His Legs". NBC Los Angeles. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Wen, Weizhong (May 18, 2022). "加州教堂枪击案嫌凶是台湾移民警方调查：政治动机仇恨犯罪" [Californian church shooting suspect is Taiwanese immigrant: Police investigates as politically-related hate crime]. Lianhe Zaobao (in Chinese). Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
^ "南加州教會槍殺案駐處查證凶嫌周文偉為台灣移民" [Southern California church shooting: Taipei Mission confirms that Chou Wen-Wei is Taiwanese immigrant] (in Chinese). Central News Agency. May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022.
^ "Laguna Woods church shooter is Vegas man 'upset about political tensions between China and Taiwan': Sheriff". KTLA. May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
^ Dovarganes, Damian; Weber, Christopher (May 15, 2022). "California churchgoers detained gunman in deadly attack". The Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
^ "Prosecutor: Church gunman had 'diabolical plan' to massacre". AP.
^ "Shooting at Taiwanese church in California that killed 1, wounded 5 investigated as hate crime, FBI says". NBC.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Beijing's rhetoric in spotlight as Taiwan condemns California shooting". The Guardian. May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
^ "California church shooter motivated by anti-Taiwanese hate, police say". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
^ Fry, Hannah; Winton, Richard; Park, Jeong; Money, Luke (May 16, 2022). "Laguna Woods shooting was a hate crime targeting Taiwanese people, sheriff says". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
^ "Who's In Jail - Inmate Info". Orange County Sheriff's Department. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
^ Chou, Shih-hui; Yeh, Joseph (May 17, 2022). "U.S. church shooting gunman a Taiwanese-American: envoy". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "槍擊台人教會… 好友曝周文偉「不滿民進黨執政」" [Shot up a Taiwanese Church… Close friend says Chou Wen-Wei is "dissatisfied with DPP government"]. World Journal. May 16, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022 – via Yahoo.
^ Qin, Amy; Cowan, Jill; Hubler, Shawn; Chang Chien, Amy (June 12, 2022). "They Inhabited Separate Worlds in Taiwan. Decades Later, They Collided in a California Church". The New York Times. Retrieved June 13, 2022. Alternate URL
^ "Beijing's rhetoric in spotlight as Taiwan condemns California shooting". The Guardian. May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
^ Yeh, Joseph (May 17, 2022). "California church gunman used to teach at Pingtung school". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Beijing's rhetoric in spotlight as Taiwan condemns California shooting". The Guardian. May 17, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lilly, Caitlin; Lee, Cody; White, Maddie. "Police: Man accused in Southern California church shooting is from Las Vegas". Fox5 Vegas. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
^ "收房租遭劫受重傷周文偉感慨述心酸" (in Chinese). Las Vegas Chinese News Network. June 22, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Suspect's life was collapsing before Laguna Woods church shooting". Los Angeles Times. May 17, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Saavedra, Tony; Licas, Eric. "Alleged Laguna Woods church shooter apparently sent documents to newspaper". Orange County Register. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
^ Taxin, Amy; Dazio, Stefanie (May 18, 2022). "Roommate: Church shooting suspect voiced criticism of Taiwan". Boston Globe. Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
^ "'I was in shock,' suspected mass shooter's roommate speaks out". KLAS. May 18, 2022. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
^ "Church shooting suspect was 'very negative,' took issue with Taiwan and U.S. governments, acquaintances say". NBC News. May 18, 2022.
^ Zhang, Ting-yu (May 18, 2022). "周文偉作案前寄七冊日記本報交警方處理" [Chou mailed (us) a seven-volume diary before committing the crime; Our paper handed it to the police]. 世界新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
^ "Alleged Laguna Woods church shooter apparently sent documents to newspaper". Orange County Register. May 19, 2022. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
^ "拉斯維加斯中國和平統一促進會正式成立" [Las Vegas NACPU chapter formally established]. Las Vegas Chinese News Network (in Chinese). April 3, 2019. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
^ "Church shooting suspect tied to pro-China group". Taipei Times. May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
^ "California church shooter in Taiwan 'peaceful reunification' group linked to Beijing". Radio Free Asia.
^ "The California Church Shooter Has a Connection to China's Influence Arm". National Review.
^ "California church shooting: Murder among 10 charges against suspected gunman". Fox 5 Atlanta.
^ "Suspect in fatal shooting at Taiwanese church in California charged with hate crime". NBC.
^ "California churchgoers hog-tied gunman in deadly attack". NPR. Associated Press. May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
^ "From across the Pacific, Taiwan's president castigates California shooting". NPR. May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
^ "Taiwan's president condemns California church shooting". CNA. May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
^ "EXPLAINER: What's behind difficult Taiwan-China relations?". Associated Press.
^ "The California Church Shooter and His Connections to China's United Front System". Global Taiwan Institute. 7 (11). June 1, 2022.
^ "Countries urged to label shooter's group 'terrorist'". The Taipei Times.
^ "Laguna Woods church targeted by gunman holds healing ceremony honoring victims, hero doctor". ABC7 Los Angeles. May 22, 2022. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
^ Hsu, Stacy; Mazzetta, Matthew (June 28, 2022). "U.S. lawmakers propose honor for church shooting 'hero'". Central News Agency. Retrieved June 29, 2022. Republished as: "Church shooting hero gets nod for top medal in US". Taipei Times. June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.

[1] "Churchgoers hogtie gunman after 1 killed, 5 wounded at Laguna Woods church". Orange County Register. May 15, 2022. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.

[2] "Five Injured, One Dead in Shooting at Laguna Woods Church; Suspected Shooter in Custody". KNBC. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.

[:0-3] Bernstein, Sharon; Hay, Andrew (May 16, 2022). "California church shooter was motivated by hate, politics". Reuters. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.

[:7-4] "California church shooter was motivated by hatred for Taiwan, China-Taiwan tensions". The Straits Times. Singapore. May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.

[:10-5] Von Quednow, Cindy (May 17, 2022). "Accused O.C. church shooter charged with 10 counts, including murder". KTLA. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.

[:13-6] "Hate Crime Allegation Added to Charges in Deadly OC Church Shooting". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved June 27, 2022.

[:12-7] Branson-Potts, Hailey; Fry, Hannah; Ormseth, Matthew (May 19, 2022). "Inside the Laguna Woods church shooting: A stranger lurking, 'evil' and heroes rising". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.

[:4-8] Tebor, Celina; Hayes, Christal (May 15, 2022). "'Exceptional heroism': California churchgoers stopped rampage, hogtied suspect after deadly shooting". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.

[Cabrera-9] Cabrera, Tony (May 17, 2022). "Las Vegas man accused in deadly shooting at Orange County church set to appear in court". ABC7 Los Angeles. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.

[:5-10] Von Quednow, Cindy (May 16, 2022). "'Heinous crime': O.C. shooting suspect secured church doors with chains, placed explosives at scene: Sheriff". KTLA. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.

[:lamystery-11] Fry, Hannah; Winton, Richard; Park, Jeong; Money, Luke (May 16, 2022). "Laguna Woods shooting was a hate crime targeting Taiwanese people, sheriff says". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022. Some said that Chou spoke to them in Taiwanese before opening fire

[wapo-12] "Authorities: Hate against Taiwanese led to church attack". The Washington Post. Associated Press. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.

[:6-13] "Deadly shooting at California church a 'hate incident' against Taiwanese community, authorities say". USA Today. May 16, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.

[Fry2022-14] Fry, Hannah (May 16, 2022). "Pastor hit gunman with chair to stop attack at Laguna Woods church, worshiper says". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 6, 2022.

[:02-15] "Laguna Woods shooting - live: Churchgoers 'hogtied' shooter with power cord after one killed and five injured". The Independent. May 2022. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.

[:32-16] Blankstein, Andrew; Dienst, Jonathan; Romero, Dennis (May 15, 2022). "1 dead, 5 injured, man detained in shooting at California Asian church reception". NBC News. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.

[17] Chang, Hetty (May 17, 2022). "Pastor Throws Chair at Laguna Woods Mass Shooting Suspect, Then Wife Ties His Legs". NBC Los Angeles. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.

[:9-18] Wen, Weizhong (May 18, 2022). "加州教堂枪击案嫌凶是台湾移民警方调查：政治动机仇恨犯罪" [Californian church shooting suspect is Taiwanese immigrant: Police investigates as politically-related hate crime]. Lianhe Zaobao (in Chinese). Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.

[:2-19] "南加州教會槍殺案駐處查證凶嫌周文偉為台灣移民" [Southern California church shooting: Taipei Mission confirms that Chou Wen-Wei is Taiwanese immigrant] (in Chinese). Central News Agency. May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022.

[:3-20] "Laguna Woods church shooter is Vegas man 'upset about political tensions between China and Taiwan': Sheriff". KTLA. May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.

[:1-21] Dovarganes, Damian; Weber, Christopher (May 15, 2022). "California churchgoers detained gunman in deadly attack". The Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.

[22] "Prosecutor: Church gunman had 'diabolical plan' to massacre". AP.

[23] "Shooting at Taiwanese church in California that killed 1, wounded 5 investigated as hate crime, FBI says". NBC.

[:8-24] "Beijing's rhetoric in spotlight as Taiwan condemns California shooting". The Guardian. May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.

[25] "California church shooter motivated by anti-Taiwanese hate, police say". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.

[26] Fry, Hannah; Winton, Richard; Park, Jeong; Money, Luke (May 16, 2022). "Laguna Woods shooting was a hate crime targeting Taiwanese people, sheriff says". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.

[27] "Who's In Jail - Inmate Info". Orange County Sheriff's Department. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.

[28] Chou, Shih-hui; Yeh, Joseph (May 17, 2022). "U.S. church shooting gunman a Taiwanese-American: envoy". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.

[World_Journal22-29] "槍擊台人教會… 好友曝周文偉「不滿民進黨執政」" [Shot up a Taiwanese Church… Close friend says Chou Wen-Wei is "dissatisfied with DPP government"]. World Journal. May 16, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022 – via Yahoo.

[30] Qin, Amy; Cowan, Jill; Hubler, Shawn; Chang Chien, Amy (June 12, 2022). "They Inhabited Separate Worlds in Taiwan. Decades Later, They Collided in a California Church". The New York Times. Retrieved June 13, 2022. Alternate URL

[:82-31] "Beijing's rhetoric in spotlight as Taiwan condemns California shooting". The Guardian. May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.

[32] Yeh, Joseph (May 17, 2022). "California church gunman used to teach at Pingtung school". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.

[guardianrhetoric-33] "Beijing's rhetoric in spotlight as Taiwan condemns California shooting". The Guardian. May 17, 2022.

[:142-34] Lilly, Caitlin; Lee, Cody; White, Maddie. "Police: Man accused in Southern California church shooting is from Las Vegas". Fox5 Vegas. Retrieved July 4, 2022.

[:111-35] "收房租遭劫受重傷周文偉感慨述心酸" (in Chinese). Las Vegas Chinese News Network. June 22, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2022.

[:15-36] "Suspect's life was collapsing before Laguna Woods church shooting". Los Angeles Times. May 17, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.

[:152-37] Saavedra, Tony; Licas, Eric. "Alleged Laguna Woods church shooter apparently sent documents to newspaper". Orange County Register. Retrieved May 20, 2022.

[roommateap-38] Taxin, Amy; Dazio, Stefanie (May 18, 2022). "Roommate: Church shooting suspect voiced criticism of Taiwan". Boston Globe. Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.

[39] "'I was in shock,' suspected mass shooter's roommate speaks out". KLAS. May 18, 2022. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.

[40] "Church shooting suspect was 'very negative,' took issue with Taiwan and U.S. governments, acquaintances say". NBC News. May 18, 2022.

[41] Zhang, Ting-yu (May 18, 2022). "周文偉作案前寄七冊日記本報交警方處理" [Chou mailed (us) a seven-volume diary before committing the crime; Our paper handed it to the police]. 世界新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.

[:11-42] "Alleged Laguna Woods church shooter apparently sent documents to newspaper". Orange County Register. May 19, 2022. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.

[43] "拉斯維加斯中國和平統一促進會正式成立" [Las Vegas NACPU chapter formally established]. Las Vegas Chinese News Network (in Chinese). April 3, 2019. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.

[44] "Church shooting suspect tied to pro-China group". Taipei Times. May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.

[45] "California church shooter in Taiwan 'peaceful reunification' group linked to Beijing". Radio Free Asia.

[46] "The California Church Shooter Has a Connection to China's Influence Arm". National Review.

[47] "California church shooting: Murder among 10 charges against suspected gunman". Fox 5 Atlanta.

[48] "Suspect in fatal shooting at Taiwanese church in California charged with hate crime". NBC.

[49] "California churchgoers hog-tied gunman in deadly attack". NPR. Associated Press. May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.

[50] "From across the Pacific, Taiwan's president castigates California shooting". NPR. May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.

[51] "Taiwan's president condemns California church shooting". CNA. May 17, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.

[52] "EXPLAINER: What's behind difficult Taiwan-China relations?". Associated Press.

[53] "The California Church Shooter and His Connections to China's United Front System". Global Taiwan Institute. 7 (11). June 1, 2022.

[54] "Countries urged to label shooter's group 'terrorist'". The Taipei Times.

[55] "Laguna Woods church targeted by gunman holds healing ceremony honoring victims, hero doctor". ABC7 Los Angeles. May 22, 2022. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.

[56] Hsu, Stacy; Mazzetta, Matthew (June 28, 2022). "U.S. lawmakers propose honor for church shooting 'hero'". Central News Agency. Retrieved June 29, 2022. Republished as: "Church shooting hero gets nod for top medal in US". Taipei Times. June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.

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@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 ==Accused==
-David Wenwei Chou was born in 1953<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who's In Jail - Inmate Info |url=http://ws.ocsd.org/Whoisinjail/Search.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514030925/http://ws.ocsd.org/Whoisinjail/Search.aspx |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |access-date=17 May 2022 |website=Orange County Sheriff's Department}}</ref> in Taiwan as a second-generation ''[[waishengren]]'' and raised in a [[military dependents' village]] as his father was in the military.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chou |first1=Shih-hui |last2=Yeh |first2=Joseph |date=May 17, 2022 |title=U.S. church shooting gunman a Taiwanese-American: envoy |agency=Central News Agency |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202205170006 |url-status=live |access-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518002218/https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202205170006 |archive-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref><ref name="World Journal222">{{cite news |date=2022-05-16 |title=槍擊台人教會… 好友曝周文偉「不滿民進黨執政」 |trans-title=Shot up a Taiwanese Church… Close friend says Chou Wen-Wei is "dissatisfied with DPP government" |work=World Journal |url=https://tw.news.yahoo.com/槍擊台人教會-好友曝周文偉-不滿民進黨執政-062004557.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517084157/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E6%A7%8D%E6%93%8A%E5%8F%B0%E4%BA%BA%E6%95%99%E6%9C%83-%E5%A5%BD%E5%8F%8B%E6%9B%9D%E5%91%A8%E6%96%87%E5%81%89-%E4%B8%8D%E6%BB%BF%E6%B0%91%E9%80%B2%E9%BB%A8%E5%9F%B7%E6%94%BF-062004557.html |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |via=Yahoo}}</ref> He graduated from the [[Taichung First Senior High School]] in 1971<ref name=":822">{{cite news |date=17 May 2022 |title=Beijing's rhetoric in spotlight as Taiwan condemns California shooting |website=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/17/taiwan-president-tsai-ing-wen-condemns-california-church-shooting |url-status=live |access-date=17 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517143458/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/17/taiwan-president-tsai-ing-wen-condemns-california-church-shooting |archive-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref> and completed a master's degree in the U.S. during the 1990s, after which he worked as a translator for immigration services.<ref name="World Journal222" /> He also lectured at the [[National Pingtung University of Science and Technology|National Pingtung Institute of Commerce]] for one year in 1994 and might have taught at other schools as well.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yeh |first1=Joseph |date=May 17, 2022 |title=California church gunman used to teach at Pingtung school |agency=Central News Agency |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202205170018 |url-status=live |access-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518011334/https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202205170018 |archive-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref>
+David Wenwei Chou was born in 1953<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who's In Jail - Inmate Info |url=http://ws.ocsd.org/Whoisinjail/Search.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514030925/http://ws.ocsd.org/Whoisinjail/Search.aspx |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |access-date=17 May 2022 |website=Orange County Sheriff's Department}}</ref> in Taiwan as a second-generation ''[[waishengren]]'' and raised in a [[military dependents' village]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chou |first1=Shih-hui |last2=Yeh |first2=Joseph |date=May 17, 2022 |title=U.S. church shooting gunman a Taiwanese-American: envoy |agency=Central News Agency |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202205170006 |url-status=live |access-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518002218/https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202205170006 |archive-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref><ref name="World Journal22">{{cite news |date=2022-05-16 |title=槍擊台人教會… 好友曝周文偉「不滿民進黨執政」 |trans-title=Shot up a Taiwanese Church… Close friend says Chou Wen-Wei is "dissatisfied with DPP government" |work=World Journal |url=https://tw.news.yahoo.com/槍擊台人教會-好友曝周文偉-不滿民進黨執政-062004557.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517084157/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E6%A7%8D%E6%93%8A%E5%8F%B0%E4%BA%BA%E6%95%99%E6%9C%83-%E5%A5%BD%E5%8F%8B%E6%9B%9D%E5%91%A8%E6%96%87%E5%81%89-%E4%B8%8D%E6%BB%BF%E6%B0%91%E9%80%B2%E9%BB%A8%E5%9F%B7%E6%94%BF-062004557.html |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |via=Yahoo}}</ref> near [[Taichung]] alongside four siblings.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Qin |first1=Amy |last2=Cowan |first2=Jill |last3=Hubler |first3=Shawn |last4=Chang Chien |first4=Amy |date=June 12, 2022 |title=They Inhabited Separate Worlds in Taiwan. Decades Later, They Collided in a California Church. |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/12/world/asia/taiwanese-church-shooting-pastor-gunman.html |access-date=June 13, 2022}} [https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/06/13/asia-pacific/taiwan-collided-california-church/ Alternate URL]</ref> He graduated from the [[Taichung First Senior High School]] in 1971<ref name=":82">{{cite news |date=17 May 2022 |title=Beijing's rhetoric in spotlight as Taiwan condemns California shooting |website=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/17/taiwan-president-tsai-ing-wen-condemns-california-church-shooting |url-status=live |access-date=17 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517143458/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/17/taiwan-president-tsai-ing-wen-condemns-california-church-shooting |archive-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref> and completed a master's degree in the U.S. during the 1990s.<ref name="World Journal22" /> In 1994, he was a lecturer at the [[National Pingtung University of Science and Technology|National Pingtung Institute of Commerce]] for one year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yeh |first1=Joseph |date=May 17, 2022 |title=California church gunman used to teach at Pingtung school |agency=Central News Agency |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202205170018 |url-status=live |access-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518011334/https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202205170018 |archive-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref>
-According to his former neighbor, Chou was once a friendly owner of a Las Vegas apartment building.<ref name=":1122">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-19 |title=Alleged Laguna Woods church shooter apparently sent documents to newspaper |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2022/05/18/alleged-laguna-woods-church-shooter-apparently-sent-documents-to-newspaper |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520144300/https://www.ocregister.com/2022/05/18/alleged-laguna-woods-church-shooter-apparently-sent-documents-to-newspaper/ |archive-date=May 20, 2022 |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":162">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-16 |title=Laguna Woods Gunman Reportedly Targeted a Taiwanese Congregation |url=https://nationalfile.com/laguna-woods-gunman-reportedly-targeted-taiwanese-americans/ |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=National File |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2012 he suffered a nearly fatal attack by two tenants over rent that led to a loss of consciousness, a broken skull, elbow, and partial hearing loss.<ref name=":1422">{{Cite web |last=Lilly |first=Caitlin |last2=Lee |first2=Cody |last3=White |first3=Maddie |title=Police: Man accused in Southern California church shooting is from Las Vegas |url=https://www.fox5vegas.com/2022/05/16/police-man-accused-southern-california-church-shooting-is-las-vegas/ |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=Fox5 Vegas |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":112">{{cite news |date=June 22, 2012 |title=收房租遭劫受重傷 周文偉感慨述心酸 |language=zh |publisher=Las Vegas Chinese News Network |url=https://www.lvcnn.com/news.php?id=6946 |access-date=May 27, 2022}}</ref> He also suspected that police detectives tried to withhold a bag with his money before the prosecuter was involved and his bag was finally recovered.<ref name=":112" />
+In 2009, Chou moved to Las Vegas and worked as a landlord with his wife.<ref name=guardianrhetoric/> In the mid 2010s Chou was almost beaten to death by two tenants who were in arrears; the attack left him with scars all over his body and a distrust of police as he suspected they deliberately withheld one of his bags which contained money during the course of their investigation.<ref name=":142">{{Cite web |last=Lilly |first=Caitlin |last2=Lee |first2=Cody |last3=White |first3=Maddie |title=Police: Man accused in Southern California church shooting is from Las Vegas |url=https://www.fox5vegas.com/2022/05/16/police-man-accused-southern-california-church-shooting-is-las-vegas/ |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=Fox5 Vegas |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":111">{{cite news |date=June 22, 2012 |title=收房租遭劫受重傷 周文偉感慨述心酸 |language=zh |publisher=Las Vegas Chinese News Network |url=https://www.lvcnn.com/news.php?id=6946 |access-date=May 27, 2022}}</ref> In 2021 Chou sold the property he and his wife owned, rented out and lived in amidst a divorce and his wife’s terminal cancer diagnosis, which resulted in her leaving Chou to return to Taiwan.<ref name=":15"/><ref name=":142" /> Chou continued to live in the property as a tenant but was evicted in March 2022 by the new owner as he was unable to afford the rent<ref name=":15"/> although he was able to find residence in a four-bedroom home in Las Vegas in February.<ref name=":152"> {{Cite web |last=Saavedra |first=Tony |last2=Licas |first2=Eric  |title= Alleged Laguna Woods church shooter apparently sent documents to newspaper |url= https://www.ocregister.com/2022/05/18/alleged-laguna-woods-church-shooter-apparently-sent-documents-to-newspaper/ | access-date=2022-05-20 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}</ref> Balmore Orellana, a former tenant and neighbour of Chou, described him as a considerate landlord whose mental condition grew increasingly unstable. In addition to his divorce and the tenant attack, Orellana said the tenants who moved into Chou’s old unit found photographs of him at a memorial for the [[2017 Las Vegas shooting]] posing with a gun and laughing hysterically, and heard from neighbors that he was caught breaking into his old mailbox a month after his eviction.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-17 |title=Suspect's life was collapsing before Laguna Woods church shooting |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-05-17/months-before-laguna-woods-shooting-suspects-life-was-in-free-fall |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> <ref name=":152"/><ref name=":142"/>
+===Views===
+Chou had expressed views against the Taiwanese and American governments. In an interview with the Associated Press, a roommate of Chou recalled a conversation they had two weeks prior to the shooting in which Chou described the Taiwanese government as corrupt, and disliked Taiwanese who supported it.<ref name="roommateap">{{cite news |last1=Taxin |first1=Amy |last2=Dazio |first2=Stefanie |title=Roommate: Church shooting suspect voiced criticism of Taiwan |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/18/nation/roommate-church-shooting-suspect-voiced-criticism-taiwan/ |access-date=May 21, 2022 |work=Boston Globe |agency=Associated Press |date=May 18, 2022 |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523130030/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/18/nation/roommate-church-shooting-suspect-voiced-criticism-taiwan/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-18 |title='I was in shock,' suspected mass shooter's roommate speaks out |url=https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/i-was-in-shock-suspected-mass-shooters-roommate-speaks-out/ |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=KLAS |language=en-US |archive-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518055717/https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/i-was-in-shock-suspected-mass-shooters-roommate-speaks-out/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Other acquaintances who knew Chou through a Taiwanese association in Las Vegas which he used to frequent  recalled his dissatisfaction with the U.S. government which stemmed from his encounter with law enforcement in the aftermath of the tenant attack.<ref>{{cite news |title=Church shooting suspect was ‘very negative,’ took issue with Taiwan and U.S. governments, acquaintances say |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/church-shooting-suspect-was-negative-took-issue-taiwan-us-governments-rcna29271 |agency=NBC News |date=May 18, 2022}}</ref>
-Acquaintances who knew Chou and his wife through the Taiwanese Association of Las Vegas and the local Taiwanese Presbyterian Church were surprised by his pro-unification stance, because most members there were pro-independent. They recalled his wife enjoying the groups' events, but Chou was very negative about life. He complained about Taiwan as well as the U.S. government and law enforcement.<ref name=":132">{{cite news |date=May 18, 2022 |title=Church shooting suspect was ‘very negative,’ took issue with Taiwan and U.S. governments, acquaintances say |agency=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/church-shooting-suspect-was-negative-took-issue-taiwan-us-governments-rcna29271}}</ref> In 2019, Chou attended the founding ceremony of the Las Vegas chapter of the [[National Association for China's Peaceful Unification]] and displayed a banner calling for the “eradication of pro independence demons.”<ref>{{cite web |date=3 April 2019 |title=拉斯維加斯中國和平統一促進會正式成立 |trans-title=Las Vegas NACPU chapter formally established |url=https://lvcnn.com/news.php?id=26275 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517052639/https://lvcnn.com/news.php?id=26275 |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |access-date=17 May 2022 |website=Las Vegas Chinese News Network |language=zh}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 17, 2022 |title=Church shooting suspect tied to pro-China group |work=[[Taipei Times]] |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2022/05/18/2003778385 |url-status=live |access-date=May 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517162419/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2022/05/18/2003778385 |archive-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref><ref name="guardianrhetoric2">{{cite news |date=17 May 2022 |title=Beijing’s rhetoric in spotlight as Taiwan condemns California shooting |agency=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/17/taiwan-president-tsai-ing-wen-condemns-california-church-shooting}}</ref> The association's spokesperson said he demonized people from Taiwan and has not been involved with the organization since the second half of 2019.<ref name=":92">{{cite news |last=Wen |first=Weizhong |date=18 May 2022 |title=加州教堂枪击案嫌凶是台湾移民 警方调查：政治动机仇恨犯罪 |language=Chinese |trans-title=Californian church shooting suspect is Taiwanese immigrant: Police investigates as politically-related hate crime |website=Lianhe Zaobao |url=https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20220518-1273740 |url-status=live |access-date=18 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518050959/https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20220518-1273740 |archive-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Feng2022">{{cite news |last1=Feng |first1=Emily |date=June 9, 2022 |title=Complex Taiwanese and Chinese identities are exposed after gunman enters church |work=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/06/09/1102838828/complex-taiwanese-and-chinese-identities-are-exposed-after-gunman-enters-church |access-date=9 June 2022}}</ref>
+In addition Chou held anti Taiwanese independence views and had links to the [[Chinese unification|pro-unification movement]]. The [[Pan-blue coalition|pan Blue]] newspaper ''[[World Journal]]'' said they had received a manifesto written and sent to them by Chou entitled ''Diary of the Independence-Slaying Angel'' ({{lang|zh-TW|滅獨天使日記}}) one day after shooting, which they decided against publishing and turned over to the police.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zhang |first1=Ting-yu |date=18 May 2022 |title=周文偉作案前寄七冊日記 本報交警方處理 |trans-title=Chou mailed (us) a seven-volume diary before committing the crime; Our paper handed it to the police |url=https://www.worldjournal.com/wj/story/121148/6321807 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519020546/https://www.worldjournal.com/wj/story/121148/6321807 |archive-date=May 19, 2022 |access-date=19 May 2022 |website=世界新聞網 |language=zh-TW}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-19 |title=Alleged Laguna Woods church shooter apparently sent documents to newspaper |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2022/05/18/alleged-laguna-woods-church-shooter-apparently-sent-documents-to-newspaper |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US |archive-date=May 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520144300/https://www.ocregister.com/2022/05/18/alleged-laguna-woods-church-shooter-apparently-sent-documents-to-newspaper/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019 Chou attended the founding ceremony of the Las Vegas chapter of the [[National Association for China's Peaceful Unification]] where he held up a banner which called for the “eradication of pro independence demons.”<ref>{{cite web |date=3 April 2019 |title=拉斯維加斯中國和平統一促進會正式成立 |trans-title=Las Vegas NACPU chapter formally established |url=https://lvcnn.com/news.php?id=26275 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517052639/https://lvcnn.com/news.php?id=26275 |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |access-date=17 May 2022 |website=Las Vegas Chinese News Network |language=zh}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 17, 2022 |title=Church shooting suspect tied to pro-China group |work=[[Taipei Times]] |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2022/05/18/2003778385 |url-status=live |access-date=May 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517162419/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2022/05/18/2003778385 |archive-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=California church shooter in Taiwan 'peaceful reunification' group linked to Beijing |url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/shooter-05172022104957.html |agency=Radio Free Asia}}</ref><ref name=guardianrhetoric>{{cite news |title=Beijing’s rhetoric in spotlight as Taiwan condemns California shooting |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/17/taiwan-president-tsai-ing-wen-condemns-california-church-shooting |agency=The Guardian |date=17 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The California Church Shooter Has a Connection to China’s Influence Arm |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-california-church-shooter-has-a-connection-to-chinas-influence-arm |agency=National Review}}</ref>
-During their divorce in 2021, his terminally ill wife returned to Taiwan for cancer treatment.<ref name=":1422" /><ref name=":113">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-19 |title=Alleged Laguna Woods church shooter apparently sent documents to newspaper |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2022/05/18/alleged-laguna-woods-church-shooter-apparently-sent-documents-to-newspaper |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520144300/https://www.ocregister.com/2022/05/18/alleged-laguna-woods-church-shooter-apparently-sent-documents-to-newspaper/ |archive-date=May 20, 2022 |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}</ref> Chou, who had been described as a considerate landlord, sold the building.<ref name=":1522">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-17 |title=Suspect's life was collapsing before Laguna Woods church shooting |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-05-17/months-before-laguna-woods-shooting-suspects-life-was-in-free-fall |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> He found occasional work as a security guard, but the income was not enough to pay rent. After firing a gun inside without injuring anyone, he was evicted in March 2022 and became homeless.<ref name=":62">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2022-05-16 |title=Deadly shooting at California church a 'hate incident' against Taiwanese community, authorities say |language=en-US |website=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/05/16/california-church-shooting-gunman-hogtied-what-we-know/9790398002/ |url-status=live |access-date=2022-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517065220/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/05/16/california-church-shooting-gunman-hogtied-what-we-know/9790398002/ |archive-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref> Several local churches turned him down for a place to stay.<ref name=":1522" /> Chou's mental stability appeared to diminish, telling his former neighbor "I just don’t care about my life anymore.”<ref name=":162" /> Other tenants have found old photographs of Chou posing with a gun and laughing hysterically at a memorial for the [[2017 Las Vegas shooting]].<ref name=":1522" />
-A former roommate recalled a conversation two weeks before the shooting in which Chou described the Taiwanese government as corrupt and disliked those who supported it.<ref name="roommateap2">{{cite news |last1=Taxin |first1=Amy |last2=Dazio |first2=Stefanie |date=May 18, 2022 |title=Roommate: Church shooting suspect voiced criticism of Taiwan |work=Boston Globe |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/18/nation/roommate-church-shooting-suspect-voiced-criticism-taiwan/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523130030/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/18/nation/roommate-church-shooting-suspect-voiced-criticism-taiwan/ |archive-date=May 23, 2022}}</ref> The [[Pan-blue coalition|pan-blue]] newspaper ''[[World Journal]]'' said they received a manifesto, allegedly written by Chou and entitled ''Diary of the Independence-Slaying Angel'' ({{lang|zh-TW|滅獨天使日記}}), one day after the shooting, which they decided against publishing and turned over to the police.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zhang |first1=Ting-yu |date=18 May 2022 |title=周文偉作案前寄七冊日記 本報交警方處理 |trans-title=Chou mailed (us) a seven-volume diary before committing the crime; Our paper handed it to the police |url=https://www.worldjournal.com/wj/story/121148/6321807 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519020546/https://www.worldjournal.com/wj/story/121148/6321807 |archive-date=May 19, 2022 |access-date=19 May 2022 |website=世界新聞網 |language=zh-TW}}</ref><ref name=":113" />
 == Legal proceedings ==
@@ Line 63: / Line 62: @@
 ==Reactions==
-Sheriff Barnes commended Cheng as a heroic figure who prevented the shooter from hurting more people.<ref name=":7" /> U.S. Representative [[Katie Porter]], whose district includes Laguna Woods, also referred to an earlier [[2022 Buffalo shooting|shooting]] in Buffalo, New York and said, "This should not be our new normal. I will work hard to support the victims and their families."<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=2022-05-16 |title=California churchgoers hog-tied gunman in deadly attack |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/05/15/1099030762/multiple-people-shot-at-california-church |access-date=2022-05-25}}</ref>
+Sheriff Barnes commended Cheng as a heroic figure who prevented the shooter from hurting more people.<ref name=":7" /> U.S. Representative [[Katie Porter]], whose district includes Laguna Woods, referred to an earlier [[2022 Buffalo shooting|shooting]] in Buffalo, New York and said, "This should not be our new normal. I will work hard to support the victims and their families."<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=2022-05-16 |title=California churchgoers hog-tied gunman in deadly attack |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/05/15/1099030762/multiple-people-shot-at-california-church |access-date=2022-05-25}}</ref>
-Taiwanese president [[Tsai Ing-wen]] condemned the shooting, and offered condolences to the victims.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2022-05-17 |title=From across the Pacific, Taiwan's president castigates California shooting |language=en |work=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/05/17/1099404111/taiwan-president-condemns-california-shooting |access-date=2022-05-17 |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517160433/https://www.npr.org/2022/05/17/1099404111/taiwan-president-condemns-california-shooting |url-status=live }}</ref> She asked for representatives in the US to fly to California to offer assistance. [[Hsiao Bi-khim]], Taiwan's de facto ambassador, posted on [[Twitter]] that she was "shocked and saddened by the fatal shooting" and would mourn with the Taiwanese-American community and victims' families.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/taiwans-president-condemns-california-church-shooting-2689436|title=Taiwan's president condemns California church shooting|website=CNA|date=17 May 2022|access-date=17 May 2022|archive-date=May 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517143122/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/taiwans-president-condemns-california-church-shooting-2689436|url-status=live}}</ref> The Taiwanese [[Kuomintang]] also condemned the shooting.<ref name=":8" />
+Taiwanese president [[Tsai Ing-wen]] condemned the shooting, and offered condolences to the victims.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2022-05-17 |title=From across the Pacific, Taiwan's president castigates California shooting |language=en |work=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/05/17/1099404111/taiwan-president-condemns-california-shooting |access-date=2022-05-17 |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517160433/https://www.npr.org/2022/05/17/1099404111/taiwan-president-condemns-california-shooting |url-status=live }}</ref> She asked for the political representatives in the US to fly to California to provide assistance. [[Hsiao Bi-khim]], Taiwan's de facto ambassador, posted on [[Twitter]] that she was "shocked and saddened by the fatal shooting at the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in California", and she expressed she would mourn together with the Taiwanese-American community and families of the victims.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/taiwans-president-condemns-california-church-shooting-2689436|title=Taiwan's president condemns California church shooting|website=CNA|date=17 May 2022|access-date=17 May 2022|archive-date=May 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517143122/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/taiwans-president-condemns-california-church-shooting-2689436|url-status=live}}</ref> The Taiwanese [[Kuomintang]] issued a statement condemning the shooting.<ref name=":8" />
-Some have blamed the incident on Beijing’s reunification rhetoric.<ref name=":82">{{cite news |date=17 May 2022 |title=Beijing's rhetoric in spotlight as Taiwan condemns California shooting |website=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/17/taiwan-president-tsai-ing-wen-condemns-california-church-shooting |url-status=live |access-date=17 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517143458/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/17/taiwan-president-tsai-ing-wen-condemns-california-church-shooting |archive-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |date=June 1, 2022 |title=The California Church Shooter and His Connections to China’s United Front System |journal=Global Taiwan Institute |volume=7 |issue=11}}</ref> In Taiwan, [[Democratic Progressive Party|DPP]] legislator [[Lin Ching-yi]] attributed the shooting to “genocidal ideology”, and 60 civic groups called for countries around the world to designate the [[China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification]] as a terrorist organization.<ref>{{cite news |title=Countries urged to label shooter’s group ‘terrorist’ |agency=The Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/05/23/2003778659}}</ref>
+Some have attributed the shooting to Beijing’s increasingly belligerent rhetoric on the issue of cross strait unification.<ref name=":8"/><ref>{{cite news |title=EXPLAINER: What’s behind difficult Taiwan-China relations? |url=https://apnews.com/article/religion-government-and-politics-china-california-dadf001a4bf302b2b7bc82717aaa9af1 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=The California Church Shooter and His Connections to China’s United Front System |journal=Global Taiwan Institute |date=June 1, 2022 |volume=7 |issue=11}}</ref> In Taiwan, [[Democratic Progressive Party|DPP]] legislator [[Lin Ching-yi]] attributed the shooting to “genocidal ideology”, and 60 civic groups called for countries around the world to designate the [[China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification]] as a terrorist organization.<ref>{{cite news |title=Countries urged to label shooter’s group ‘terrorist’ |agency=The Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/05/23/2003778659}}</ref>
-Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China|China's ministry of foreign affairs]], said "[w]e hope the US government can take action against its increasingly severe gun violence problem".<ref name=":8" /> Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said: "We express our condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured."<ref name="wapo" />
+Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China|China's ministry of foreign affairs]], said "[w]e hope the US government can take action against its increasingly severe gun violence problem".<ref name=":8" /> Chinese Embassy in Washington spokesperson Liu Pengyu said: "We express our condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured."<ref name="wapo" />
 On May 21, local elected officials and religious leaders gathered at the church to memorialize and honor the victims of the shooting. A moment of silence was held for Dr. Cheng. [[United States House of Representatives|Representative]] [[Young Kim]] stated that there was no place in the community and society for any type of hate and that the community needed to stand together.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-05-22 |title=Laguna Woods church targeted by gunman holds healing ceremony honoring victims, hero doctor |url=https://abc7.com/laguna-woods-church-shooting-victims-honored-ceremony/11879916/ |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=ABC7 Los Angeles |language=en |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523130029/https://abc7.com/laguna-woods-church-shooting-victims-honored-ceremony/11879916/ |url-status=live }}</ref>