David Chou, who was already charged with remove and other counts for lowest month’s California church shooting, now faces hate crimes. The former Las Vegas certificate safety device allegedly killed unity somebody and injured quintuplet others.
News of the additional saddle was proclaimed Fri by prosecutors in Orange River County California. He also was charged antecedently with five counts of attempted murder. Other charges include 4 counts of ownership of an explosive device, fabrication in wait, and personal expelling of a small-arm causation death.
If convicted on all counts, Chou could human face execution, the Los Angeles Times reported. He remains slow bars without bail. Earlier this month, he appeared in Orange River County Superior Court.
Superior Court Judge Cynthia Herrera delayed his arraignment until Aug. 19. He has in time to participate a plea on the charges.
Hate Crime Explained
The hatred offense charges require prosecutors shew the defendant has sure motivations. When Chou allegedly killed Dr. King John Cheng, 52, in the church during the May 15 shooting, it was motivated by race, color, religion, nationality, or country of origin, the Times reported based on statements by prosecutors. The shot victims were mostly Asiatic and mostly of Taiwanese descent, the Times added.
The shootings also were a “politically motivated detest incident,” according to Orange River County Sheriff Don Barnes. Chou “specifically targeted the Formosan community,” authorities claimed.
Chou does non trust Taiwan should remain as an independent nation from China, authorities get revealed. Chou grew up in Taiwan, the Times added.
The shooting spree took localize during a Formosan Presbyterian Christian church luncheon held inward Genf Presbyterian Church situated in Laguna Woods, Calif.
The Taiwanese congregation reportedly is inward favour of Taiwanese independence. Services at the church building used a Taiwanese accent inwards liturgy, instead of the Beijing dialect Chinese dialect, the Times added.
Chou was armed with ii 9-millimeter handguns, additional ammo, and quartet Molotov cocktail-type explosives during the attack, the news report adds. He chained doors at the church.
When the shooting took place, Cheng and others at the dejeuner fought back. One soul used a chairman to subdue Chou. Chou also was fastened with an electrical cord until police force arrived.
Ties to Las Vegas
Chou was once a security safety on the Las Vegas Strip, KSNV, a local TV send reported. It was not instantly known for sure where he worked on the major gambling thoroughfare.
One germ told the Times he worked for a society that provided security at the Sands and Venetian casinos.
He possessed a NV security guard’s license, reports revealed. He worked for v surety companies inwards Sagebrush State 'tween 2014 and 2021, according to a papers published by The Reporter Times.
Chou erstwhile co-owned the flat building where he lived, set near Twain Avenue and Decatur Boulevard, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He later sold it. Chou may experience been living inward his elevator car in recent months, KSNV reported.