David Chou, the suspect in Geneva Presbyterian Church, Laguna Woods shooting, has been indicted with as many as 98 charges including federal hate crime.
The shooting incident in one death and five injuries in May 2022. Investigators, as per The Associated Press, said that he was motivated by ‘political hatred’ towards Taiwan.
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The US Department of Justice announced the indictment on Thursday. Chou is also facing weapons and explosives and forceful obstruction of free exercise of religion charges.
David Chou is 69 years old. As per local authorities, he chained and nailed the exit doors of the church before shooting at old parishioners from the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church. He had two handguns and Molotov cocktail-style devices.
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The indictment included 45 counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by force. The Justice Dept said that his attack ‘resulted in the death of one person’ and Chou attempted to kill 44 others.
David Chou is a US Citizen. He grew up in Taiwan before his family was forced to move after the communist reign – China – came in.
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The 69-year-old was charged last year by Orange County prosecutors with murder and attempted murder. He pleaded not guilty. He was being held without bail and will be back in court on July 14. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of death or life in prison without parole.
As per authorities, Chou spent about an hour with the churchgoers before opening fire.
The wounded victims ranged in age from 66 to 92.
