The O.C. Sheriff arrested a man who opened fire at an O.C. church this afternoon

At 1:26 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, 2022, deputies responded to reports of a man with a gun at Geneva Presbyterian Church in the 24000 block of El Toro Road. When deputies arrived, they found the congregants had detained the suspect by tackling him then tying his legs with extension cords.

Deputies located one deceased individual and five others who were injured. They immediately began lifesaving measures until paramedics with the Orange County Fire Authority arrived to provide advanced critical care. Five individuals were taken to local hospitals where they are being treated.

  • • Victim #1: 66-year-old Asian male, gunshot wound
  • • Victim #2: 92-year-old Asian male, gunshot wound
  • • Victim #4: 82-year-old Asian male, gunshot wound
  • • Victim #5: 75-year-old Asian male, gunshot wound
  • • Victim #3: 86-year-old Asian female, gunshot wound

The identity of the decedent will be released pending official identification by the Coroner and notification next of kin.

The suspect, David Wenwei Chou, a 68-year-old Las Vegas resident, was taken into custody and two firearms were recovered at the scene. The man is not believed to live in the area and investigators are working to determine his city of residence and whether he has any connections to the church or its congregants. The identity of the suspect will be released after he is booked into the Orange County Jail.

The investigation remains ongoing. The Orange County Fire Authority, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting in the incident.

Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.
Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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