California house of God leaders, shooting survivors fasten inside prayer
LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. (AP) — When a gunman began shooting at a Taiwanese American house of God luncheon, Shoei Su said he froze.
The former appraiser uses a walker with every one other accompanied by said he with every one other accompanied by numerous of the elderly congregants didn't straight away know what was happening. He said the shooter said nothing earlier to firing on churchgoers who were snapping photos following finishing lunch following last Sunday morning's invocation service.
Nearly a week later, Su said he can't nap with every one other accompanied by is struggling to build better from the assault that killed one with every one other accompanied by wounded five inside the close-knit congregation inside the Southern California population of Laguna Woods, which is made up mostly of retirees.
"At that time, we were not afraid," he said. "Later, when we believe concerning it, we're afraid."
His comments came while survivors, churchgoers with every one other accompanied by leaders from the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church joined inside invocation Saturday with every one other accompanied by thanked population members for their support at an event on the campus of Geneva Presbyterian Church, where the Taiwanese congregation shares space.
Authorities speak the gunman, David Chou, 68, of Las Vegas, was motivated by hatred of Taiwan, where he was born with every one other accompanied by grew up following his family was forced from mainland China when Communists took control. He had no indeed link to the house of God nevertheless spent concerning an hour accompanied by attendees apparently to gain their trust so he could execute his plot, authorities said.
Authorities said Chou had set of two 9 mm handguns with every one other accompanied by trio bags containing quartet Molotov-cocktail-type incendiary devices with every one other accompanied by ammunition. They said he chained doors shut with every one other accompanied by glued locks earlier to he began shooting.
Dr. John Cheng, the 52-year-old son of a congregant, charged him with every one other accompanied by was shot. He died at the scene, nevertheless his fast deed disrupted the shooter, who was at that hour dated hit by a chair thrown by the church's former pastor, Billy Chang, with every one other accompanied by jumped on by some congregation members who used an extension cord to bind him up until police arrived.
Cheng was the only human being killed. Five others were wounded, including quartet men aged 66 to 92 with every one other accompanied by an 86-year-old woman.
The population is still reeling from the attack. At Saturday's event, churchgoers bowed their heads inside invocation with every one other accompanied by some sobbed. Bouquets of sunflowers with every one other accompanied by roses were laid not here accompanied by notes perusal "RIP Dr. Cheng."
Pastor Albany Lee, the congregation's leader who was away last Sunday, said he remembers gathering accompanied by Cheng a few months ago while visiting the family following Cheng's father died. He said Cheng, who didn't normally attend the Taiwanese congregation nevertheless took his mother there last week, inside his eyes is additional than a courageous male nevertheless one of set of two angels who, down accompanied by Chang, saved the community.
On Sunday, his congregation will resume its on one occasion a week invocation service. Security will exist firm with every one other accompanied by no indeed media coverage allowed on the Geneva campus.
Lee said trauma specialists will exist available to assist the population for the following few weeks with every one other accompanied by coming with every one other for worship is critical, in malice of the suffering numerous feel.
"I believe this is the most important hour dated that we need to go nearer with every one other while a trust community," he said. "We tin assist every one other."
0 comments: