Monday 16 May 2022 12:16 PM Hero pastor hit Orange County gunman with a chair and churchgoers hogtied him ... trends now

A hero pastor at a Taiwanese church in Orange County hit a gunman over the head with a chair while his elderly congregants hogtied him and confiscated his weapons after he went on a shooting spree on Sunday afternoon, killing one and injuring five.

The man opened fire during a lunch reception at the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, southern California, about 55 miles southeast of Los Angeles at 1.30pm on Sunday. A motive for the shooting has not yet been disclosed, but investigators don't believe the gunman, an Asian man in his 60s whose name was not immediately released, lives in the community.

Longtime congregant at Irvine Jerry Chen, 72 had just stepped into the kitchen of his church's fellowship hall when he heard the gunshots and saw church members screaming, running and ducking under tables.

'I knew someone was shooting,' he said. 'I was very, very scared. I ran out the kitchen door to call 911.' 

Officials said the shooting ended after the gunman killed one man and wounded five senior citizens before worshippers hog-tied his legs with an electrical cord until deputies arrived. Four of the five people wounded suffered critical gunshot injuries.

Chen, who called emergency services from the church's parking lot, said he was in such a state of shock that he was unable to tell the operator his location. 'I had to ask someone else for the address,' he said.

Chen said a group of about 40 congregants had gathered in the fellowship hall for a luncheon after a morning service to welcome their former Pastor Billy Chang, who had served the church for 20 years and was a beloved and respected community member. Chang moved back to Taiwan two years ago. This was his first time back stateside, Chen said.

Everyone had just finished lunch - a special bento box with teriyaki chicken. Chen said: 'They were taking photos with Pastor Chang. I had just finished my lunch and went into the kitchen.' That was when he heard the gunshots and ran out.

Soon afterwards, Chen said he heard the details of what happened inside from others who came out. Fellow congregants told him that when the gunman stopped to reload, Pastor Chang hit him on the head with a chair while others moved quickly to grab his gun. They then subdued him and tied him up.

'It was amazing how brave (Chang) and the others were,' he said. 'This is just so sad. I never, ever thought something like this would happen in my church, in my community.'

Most of the church's members are elderly, highly educated Taiwanese immigrants, Cheng said. 'We're mostly retirees and the average age of our church is 80.' 

Those wounded by gunshots included four Asian men, ages 66, 75, 82 and 92, and an 86-year-old Asian woman, the sheriff's department said. Authorities originally said only four of the five surviving victims had been shot.

It is understood that the gunman, who is now in police custody, got into the church by saying he had attended services before, Chen said.

About 40 parishioners witnessed the violence - but those who were present also helped to prevent further bloodshed by overpowering the shooter and tying him up. 

The group reportedly confiscated his weapons and restrained him until police arrived on the scene. 

Police say those involved 'showed exceptional heroism and bravery in detaining the suspect.'

'That group of churchgoers displayed what we believe is exceptional heroism and bravery in intervening to stop the suspect. They undoubtedly prevented additional injuries and fatalities,' Orange County Undersheriff Jeff Hallock said. 'I think it's safe to say that had people not intervened, it could have been much worse.' 

Two handguns were found on the shooter and were quickly removed. 

It's not clear exactly how the parishioners were able to subdue the man, but as soon as they had him on the ground, they tied his arms and legs with electrical or extension cords, Hallock explained. 

One person suffered fatal wounds and died at the scene at the church. Four of the other victims were critically wounded - while a fifth suffered minor injuries. 

All of the victims were adults and have been revealed to be four men aged 66, 75, 82 and 92 and one woman, aged 86.

Two of them were taken to Providence Mission Hospital, the medical center confirmed. Another victim was transported to UC Irvine Medical Center, and two more were transported to Orange County Global Medical Center, including a 92-year-old man who was grazed by a bullet.

The majority of those inside the church were believed to be of Taiwanese descent and had gathered to honor a former pastor of the church with a lunch reception after Sunday morning's service.

 A motive for the shooting, which took place in an auditorium called Simpson Hall, rather than the main auditorium where services are normally held, wasn't immediately known - but investigators said they don't believe the gunman lives in the community.

Sheriff John Mina said police were still working to determine a motive and do not know whether it was a 'hate-related' incident. 

Mina also said that it was not known whether the suspect had any connections to the church or whether any victims had been targeted. 

'Until we do that, we won't really have a good idea if he was known to the congregants,' Hallock said.