In another shooting rampage incident in the United States, a Chinese origin shot at a Taiwanese church gathering in California. The shooting incident that occurred on Sunday has been reported to be a hate crime. According to the local police statements published by news media, the man was upset over the Chinese-Taiwanese tensions and did not believe in Taiwan’s independence.
A 68 years old man, Chou, born in China was arrested on Sunday after he went open firing at a Taiwanese Church gathering in Laguna Woods, California. The initial outcomes of the investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s officials, the incident appears to be a hate crime against the Taiwanese community. He has admitted to having been upset over the political tensions between China and Taiwan.
“We believe, based on what we’ve discovered so far, that he specifically targeted the Taiwanese community, and this is one representation of that Taiwanese community,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, referring to the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church, which was the target of the attack, according to the Los Angeles Times. The sheriff has added that among the evidence, they have recovered notes written in Chinese by the suspect which said that he does not believe Taiwan should be an independent country.
Chou on Sunday arrived at the church and chained the doors, and glued the locks before open firing at a gathering of around 40 people, members of a Taiwanese Presbyterian congregation from nearby Irvine, California, attending a luncheon honoring a former local pastor. The casualty could have been way worse if Dr. John Chen did not tackle the shooter when he started shooting. Dr. Chen died a hero, saving many lives from the incident. Five people have been reported injured but no death apart from Dr. Chen.
China’s political tensions with its neighboring countries like Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, India, etc. is a serious issue. Not only does it politically affect the countries, but economically too these countries are also forced to make huge spending on defenses. Socially, people are monitored and controlled to the extent that 158 Tibetans have already committed self-immolation in the last ten years.
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