One person was killed and five were injured after a gunman shot at a church in California, police said.
Authorities arrested the gunman at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California, a city with approximately 16,000 people, 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The shooting lasted until 1:30 p.m., where about 30 patrons gathered for lunch after lunch.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department said one person was found dead at the church while the other four victims were in critical condition. Another man was treated for minor injuries. All victims were adults, the oldest being 92 years old.
Police identified the suspect as a 60 -year -old Asian man, and added that they did not believe he was from the Laguna Woods area. So far it is not yet known what he will do after leaving the post.
Orange County Sheriff Jeff Halok said the hunt was a “tragic” day for the community, but said the incident would have been worse without the “special courage” of patrons. Halok said a group of church visitors arrested the killer, tied the pigs to their feet and removed the two guns. Police arrived at the scene and arrested the suspect while entering the building.
“On the basis of the preliminary investigation, it turns out that one or more parishes acted very heroically and launched their own,” Helok said at a news conference. If people don’t intervene, it will only get worse.
#OCSDPIO Congressmen are responding to reports of a shooting at a church in Laguna Woods, 24,000 blocks from El Toro Road. Several victims were killed. More details must follow, PIO on the road.
– OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSheriff) May 15, 2022
The Los Angeles Times reported At the time of the attack, Taiwanese parishioners were gathering at a church.
“I understand that everything happened inside the church,” Kerry Brown, a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, told the New York Times. “We were trying to figure out what kind of service was being provided at the time.”
More than 90% of the people in the Laguna Woods enclave live in the Laguna Woods countryside, in a community over 55 years old.
Lisa Bartlett, Orange County 5th District Superintendent, said it was “a dark day for the people of Laguna Woods.
“Just a day after the pathetic and hateful actions that led to the massacre. [in New York] “We also deal with people who are shot and killed in places of worship,” Bartlett said Sunday. “To the parishioners of the church… we are here for you and we will find justice for you. For the author, our country will work to ensure justice for the victims. “
From Laguna Woods to Buffalo, our communities know the pain of gun violence. It is a nationwide epidemic. We need elected officials across the country and at all levels of government to empower and guide, not just thinking and praying.
– Katie Porter (@katieporteroc) May 15, 2022
The shooting took place in Buffalo, New York, just a day after the deadly massacre. The 18-year-old suspect was arrested after police said they fired at a supermarket, killing 10 and wounding three.
Authorities called the shooting a racist hate crime.
Source: Huffpost
