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'Exceptional heroism': California churchgoers stopped rampage, hogtied suspect after deadly shooting

LOS ANGELES — One person is dead and five others were wounded – four critically – after a gunman entered a Southern California church during a Taiwanese congregation's luncheon and opened fire, authorities said Sunday.

Police said the gunman, an Asian man in his 60s, was armed with two handguns when he entered the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods around 1:30 p.m. PT. The church, about 45 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, had finished its morning services and congregants were gathered for an afternoon luncheon, Jeff Hallock, Orange County's undersheriff, said at a news conference.

All five injured victims were Asian, ages ranging from 66 to 92, the Orange County Sheriff's Department said Sunday night. The identity of the victim who died has not been released.

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As bullets were fired, a group of churchgoers pinned the gunman to the ground and hogtied his legs with an extension cord, and took his weapons, Hallock said.

"That group of churchgoers displayed what we believe is exceptional heroism and bravery in intervening to stop the suspect," Hallock said. "They undoubtedly prevented additional injuries and fatalities."

When deputies arrived, they found the suspect hogtied and took him into custody. He was not injured. Hallock said the suspect is not from the area and a motive isn't clear. He said authorities are investigating why he targeted the church, which was hosting a large Taiwanese congregation at the time, and whether it might be considered a hate crime.

Linguists from the FBI were also being called to help in interviewing both witnesses and the suspect.

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Investigators gather outside the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California.
Investigators gather outside the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California.

It's not clear whether the suspect, whose identity hasn't been released, had any connection to the church or its congregation.

About 30 to 40 people were inside the church at the time of the shooting, most of whom were Taiwanese, authorities said. The church hosts the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church for its services Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., the church’s website says.

The afternoon lunch reception was honoring a former pastor of a Taiwanese congregation that has services at Geneva, according to a statement from the Presbytery of Los Ranchos, a church administrative body.

“Please keep the leadership of the Taiwanese congregation and Geneva in your prayers as they care for the those traumatized by this shooting,” the presbytery’s Tom Cramer said in a statement on Facebook.

The mass shooting was the latest high-profile attack to rock the nation this weekend. . On Saturday, 10 people were killed at a supermarket in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Buffalo, New York. Authorities say the suspect in that attack, a white 18-year-old who wore tactical gear and livestreamed his rampage, was fueled by racism and hatred.

Laguna Woods, which spans just over three square miles, consists of mostly a retirement community with the majority of residents living in the gated community of Laguna Woods Village. More than 15,000 of the city’s nearly 18,000 residents live at Laguna Woods Village.

A developer created the community, previously known as Leisure World, in the early 1960s, according to the city’s website. It became Orange County’s 32nd city when it was incorporated in 1999. Neighboring cities include Aliso Viejo, Irvine, Laguna Beach, and Laguna Hills.

82% of residents were ages 65 or older in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The population identifies as 74% white and 21% Asian.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Twitter that he is actively monitoring the church shooting and working with local law enforcement.

"No one should have to fear going to their place of worship. Our thoughts are with the victims, community, and all those impacted by this tragic event," his office tweeted.

The incident occurred in an area with a cluster of houses of worship, including Catholic, Lutheran and Methodist churches and a Jewish synagogue.

On its website, Geneva Presbyterian Church describes its mission as “to remember, tell, and live the way of Jesus by being just, kind, and humble.”

“All are welcome here. Really, we mean that! … Geneva aspires to be an inclusive congregation worshipping, learning, connecting, giving and serving together.”

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Geneva Presbyterian Church shooting: At least one dead in Laguna Woods