Laguna Woods shooting - live: Churchgoers ‘hogtied’ shooter with power cord after one killed and five injured
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One person is dead, four others are “critically” wounded and another person has “minor” injuries after a gunman opened fire inside a church in southern California on Sunday afternoon.
Emergency dispatchers received a call of a shooting inside Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods at 1.26pm PT on 15 May, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office .
All victims are adults and have been admitted to area hospitals.
A suspect was detained at the scene and a weapon was recovered, according to police.
The church in Laguna Woods – a city of roughly 16,000 people roughly 50 miles south of Los Angeles – held its weekly in-person worship services earlier on Sunday.
A statement from the office of Governor Gavin Newsom said officials “no one should have to fear going to their place of worship. Our thoughts are with the victims, community, and all those impacted by this tragic event.”
The shooting comes one day after a gunman killed 10 people in a grocery store in an apparent racist attack in Buffalo, New York, among the deadliest mass shootings in 2022.
Key Points
One dead and four ‘critically’ wounded in church shooting
Gavin Newsom: ‘No one should have to fear going to their place of worship'
Churchgoers ‘hogtied’ gunman with extension cord during shooting
01:10 , Josh Marcus
Parioshners hogtied a gunman with an extension cord after he killed one person and injured five more at a Southern California church on Sunday, according to Orange County undersheriff Jeff Hallock.
“They undoubtedly prevented additional injuries and fatalities,” Mr Hallock said at a press conference on Sunday.
Police arriving at the scene found the man tied up and stripped of at least two weapons.
The suspect, whose motive and place of origin is unknown, is an Asian man in his 60s, according to police.
Police say it’s unclear whether the attack was a hate incident like Saturday’s mass shooting in Buffalo, or whether the man had any ties to the church.
Parishioners ‘subdued’ gunman who opened fire on church
Monday 16 May 2022 00:56 , Josh Marcus
About 30 people were inside Geneva Presbyterian Church on Sunday when a gunman opened fire inside, before being “subdued” by parishioners, according to police.
The individual, who has not been named publicly, is a 68-year-old Asian man originally from Las Vegas, a law enforcement source told The Los Angeles Times.
Police to address publicly shortly about Southern California church shooting
Monday 16 May 2022 00:45 , Josh Marcus
Police are expected to address the pubilc at 5pm PT on Sunday with updates about the shooting at a church in Laguna Woods, California.
Law enforcement: Many people inside church were Taiwanese
Sunday 15 May 2022 23:53 , Alex Woodward
Officials with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office told reporters that many of the roughly 30 people inside Geneva Presbyterian Church at the time of the shooting were Taiwanese.
The church hosts services for the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church.
LAGUNA CHURCH SHOOTING: Orange County Sheriff says roughly 40 people were inside church during shooting. Large portion of attendees were Taiwanese. No word yet on victims or suspect identity. All victims were adults @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/76U5nCcG0I
— Travis Rice (@traviscrice) May 15, 2022
Most of Laguna Woods is within age-restricted community
Sunday 15 May 2022 23:46 , Alex Woodward
Most of the population of Laguna Woods, roughly 50 miles southest of Los Angeles, lives within a large age-restricted community formerly known as Leisure World where at least one member of a household must be age 55 or older.
The city also is about 10 miles from University of California Irvine.
California congresswoman: ‘This is a nationwide epidemic'
Sunday 15 May 2022 23:34 , Alex Woodward
California US Rep Katie Porter, who represents a swath of Orange County in Congress, said in the wake of shootings in Laguna Woods and Buffalo, shootings have become “a nationwide epidemic.”
“We need elected officials across the country and at every level of government to step up and lead—not just think and pray,” she said.
From Laguna Woods to Buffalo, our communities know the pain of gun violence. This is a nationwide epidemic. We need elected officials across the country and at every level of government to step up and lead—not just think and pray.
— Katie Porter (@katieporteroc) May 15, 2022
In another statement, she said “this should not be our new normal.”
A shooting at a church in Laguna Woods has left multiple people injured. This is upsetting and disturbing news, especially less than a day after a mass shooting in Buffalo. This should not be our new normal. I will work hard to support the victims and their families.
— Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) May 15, 2022
Governor’s office monitoring scene: ‘No one should have to fear going to their place of worship'
Sunday 15 May 2022 23:25 , Alex Woodward
A statement from the office of California Governor Gaving Newsom says “no one should have to fear going to their place of worship.”
“Our thoughts are with the victims, community, and all those impacted by this tragic event,” according to the statement.
We are actively monitoring the shooting at a church in Laguna Woods and working closely with local law enforcement.
No one should have to fear going to their place of worship. Our thoughts are with the victims, community, and all those impacted by this tragic event.— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) May 15, 2022
One dead and four ‘critically’ wounded in attack at church
Sunday 15 May 2022 23:24 , Alex Woodward
What we know about the shooting in Orange County so far:
One dead and four ‘critically’ wounded in shooting at Laguna Woods church
