The suspect within the mass taking pictures at a Taiwanese church gathering in Laguna Woods Sunday that killed one particular person and wounded 5 others was concerned with a pro-China group the place a member described him as “too radical” for the group, in keeping with media experiences.
The Taipei Occasions in a Tuesday story stated that 68-year-old David Wenwei Chou, who faces one depend of capital homicide and 5 counts of tried homicide, apparently belonged to Las Vegas Chinese language for Peaceable Unification, a semi-official group of the Chinese language Communist Celebration.
Based on an April 3, 2019 article printed by the Las Vegas Chinese language Information Community, Chou attended the founding ceremony of the group and was an outspoken supporter of the presidential bid of former Kaohsiung, Taiwan mayor Han Kuo-yu.
The newspaper stated a photograph accompanying the article exhibits Chou, also called Zhou Wenwei, displaying a banner on the assembly calling for the “annihilation of separatist demons,” written in Chinese language.
Gu Yawen, president of the Las Vegas China Peaceable Reunification Promotion group, advised Taiwan’s Central Information Company that Chou was “uninvited” and he or she felt that his beliefs had been too excessive, so she stored a distance from him.
After mid-2019, Chou didn't take part in any of the council’s actions and from then on was now not a member of the group, the Central Information Company reported.
That is allegedly a photograph of David Chou, the man charged within the Orange County taking pictures. He's pointing to a sentence that claims "Swiftly and violently exterminate the [Taiwan] independence demons." The banner additionally helps Han Kuo-yu within the 2019 KMT presidential main. https://t.co/CibiP4979B
— Michael Fahey (@shu_wang_gong) Could 17, 2022
The Orange County Sheriff’s Division, which has stated the assault on Taiwanese Presbyterian Church members in Laguna Woods was prompted by Chou’s grudge in opposition to Taiwan, declined to say if the suspect belonged to any pro-China organizations.
Any involvement by the suspect in a corporation will likely be a part of the investigation,” Sheriff’s Division spokesperson Carrie Braun, stated. “We're not disclosing what, if any, organizations could also be concerned presently.”
Chou, who generally referred to himself as “professor” taught within the Division of Utilized Science of Dwelling at Pingtung College of Science and Know-how, however after his one-year contract expired it was not renewed, the Central Information Company reported.
Chou was born in Taiwan in 1953 and resided there earlier than immigrating to the U.S., Louis Huang, director-general of the Taipei Financial and Cultural Workplace in Los Angeles has advised information organizations in Taiwan.
After getting into the U.S., Chou lived in quite a few states together with Florida and Texas earlier than settling in Las Vegas, the place he labored for numerous safety corporations and owned a four-plex off the Strip.
Chou advised the Las Vegas Chinese language Information Community in a 2012 interview that he got here to Las Vegas to spend money on 12 flats and ended up managing eight of them behind town’s conference and exhibition heart.
He stated in April 2012, two tenants lured him into an condo beneath a ruse that had been going to pay lease after which attacked him, hanging him within the face and hitting him within the head with an iron, the community reported.
He advised the information group he stabbed one of many assailants with a pair of scissors earlier than shedding consciousness. The assault left Chou with 30 greater than stitches to his face, a damaged elbow and partial deafness in a single ear, in keeping with the community report.
Individually, Chou’s roommate in Las Vegas advised The Related Press on Tuesday there have been no warning indicators of the assault to come back.
The roommate, Jordin Davis, stated Chou gave the impression to be a sort and quiet particular person.
“At this level, and every part that’s occurred, I’ve simply began to marvel: ‘Did you, David, use your kindness and generosity to cover some very darkish secrets and techniques?’” Davis requested.
Chou moved right into a four-bedroom dwelling in Las Vegas in February. Davis stated Chou usually shared his meals, often hen dishes, and stored to a quiet routine: “come dwelling, fall asleep, take a bathe, go to work and simply repeat.”
Chou by no means talked faith however recognized himself as a Christian and made a cross in black tape on the roof of his automobile, Davis advised the AP.
The 2 had few conversations past small speak or chatting about Davis’ canine, Zeus, Davis stated.
Chou solely spoke about Taiwan as soon as, throughout a dialog lower than two weeks in the past, Davis stated. Chou stated he felt the Taiwanese authorities was corrupt and disliked how individuals on the island had been sympathetic to the management.
“He made himself appear to be he was principally a political refugee,” Davis stated.
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes stated Chou drove greater than 272 miles from Las Vegas to Laguna Woods on Saturday.
The next day, he went to Geneva Presbyterian Church and opened fireplace on a gaggle of aged members of the Taiwanese Presbyterian Church, who had been holding a luncheon for his or her former pastor.
Dr. John Cheng, a household apply and sports-medicine specialist from Laguna Niguel, tackled the suspect earlier than he was shot to demise. 4 different members of the church ranging in age from 66 to 92 years previous had been additionally shot however are anticipated to outlive.
After the taking pictures, the congregants subdued and hogtied Chou with electrical cords whereas ready for deputies to reach.
The Related Press contributed to this story.
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