Las Vegas Ex-Security Guard Remains in Custody for Deadly Church Shooting Spree
The 68-year-old Las Vegas piece accused of violent death single adult male and wounding Little Phoebe others inwards a Southern Calif. church building lowest month remains behindhand bars this weekend without bail. If convicted, he could follow executed. type A public protector was appointed to represent him on a variety of serious charges.
The counts against David Wenwei Chou include special circumstances murder, 5 counts of attempted murder, and quartet counts of unlawful possession of explosives, according to the Orange County Register.
In recent years, he worked as a security measures ward in Las Vegas for several protection firms, the Los Angeles Times has reported. At to the lowest degree i of his employers provided certificate to casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, the news report added.
No Plea Entered
On Friday, he appeared inward Orange River County Superior Court. Superior Margaret Court Judge Cynthia Herrera delayed his arraignment until Aug. 19. He has in time to participate a plea on the charges. When he reappears in court, his attorney could strain to have the adjudicate go under bail.
Friday’s auditory modality lasted well-nigh II minutes. A Mandarin interpreter translated for Chou. He was held inward a holding cage in at the Santa Ana courtroom.
On May 15, Chou allegedly fired multiple shots during a Formosan church building religious service luncheon held inwards Laguna Woods’ Geneva Presbyterian church. He allegedly chained and nailed doors shut, before shooting at the victims, the Associated Press reported. Chou yet used Super Glue to fix the doors, authorities claim.
Parishioners were capable to hold him until constabulary officers arrived. Realizing the wild risk, a adult male believed to live the church’s former pastor, Billy Chang, reportedly used a chair to ten-strike Chou in the head. Other congregants and so grabbed his firearm. They were able-bodied to tie his legs using electrical cords
Later, authorities found additional ammunition, as well as devices, similar to Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov cocktails, inward bags obscure inwards the church.
Police recovered two semi-automatic 9 mm firearms from the church, the Las Vegas Review-Journal said. They were de jure purchased.
The piece killed inward the attack was identified as Dr. John Cheng, 52. Five others victims required intervention at a local hospital.
Grievances About Taiwan
Chou was born in Taiwan. He spent his youth there, too. His choler with Republic of China and its tensity with China, may hold been a motive inwards the shooting, law of nature enforcement officials have revealed. He apparently had a grievance with the Chinese community, too.
Chou apparently drove from Las Vegas to Orange River County, Golden State hours before the shooting. He had no prior ties to the church.
Chou erst co-owned the flat edifice inwards which he lived, located nigh Twain Avenue and Stephen Decatur Boulevard, according to the Review-Journal. He later sold it. Chou may make been living inward his railroad car inwards recent months, KSNV, a Las Vegas TV place reported.