EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes says the deadly mass shooting in Laguna Woods was a, "politically motivated hate incident," specifically targeting the general Tawainese community.
The suspect, a 68-year-old man from Las Vegas named David Chou, opened fire at the Geneva Presbyterian Church on Sunday, killing one man and injuring five others. He has been charged with charged with murder and five felony counts of attempted murder.
This violence comes on the heels of a string of racist incidents over the weekend, including a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, that left 10 people dead. The shooting is also being investigated as a hate crime.
Rep. Katie Porter, whose district includes the Laguna Woods area, described the news as disturbing, especially given the shooting in Buffalo.
“This should not be our new normal,” she said.
A shooting at a church in Laguna Woods has left multiple people injured. This is upsetting and disturbing news, especially less than a day after a mass shooting in Buffalo. This should not be our new normal. I will work hard to support the victims and their families.
— Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) May 15, 2022
Porter spoke with Spectrum News 1 after the OC Sheriff's Department press conference.