An American man faces the death penalty after allegedly pretending to be a church parishioner to get inside a Taiwanese Presbyterian church and locking the doors before unleashing fire on innocent people.
David Wenwei Chou, 68, a US citizen of Chinese descent, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder, five counts of premeditated attempted murder and four counts of possession of an explosive device with the intent to kill or harm. The murder count includes a "lying in wait" enhancement.
If convicted on all charges, Chou faces the maximum sentence of death.
On Sunday, Chou allegedly entered the Geneva Presbyterian Church in California with two handguns and several backpacks containing extra magazines and four Molotov-type cocktails.
He reportedly hid the backpack in the church and secured several of the church's banquet hall doors shut before mingling with parishioners who were there to celebrate one of the church pastors.
"He did everything he could to fit in, to make himself one of them," Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a press conference. "He used that ruse to get in there and then make that entire room feel comfortable."
Chou then allegedly started shooting several of the parishioners, including 52-year-old Dr John Cheng who was attending the celebration with his recently widowed mother.
Dr Cheng, a family and sports medicine physician, has been labelled a hero after his selflessly charged at the Chou to protect the dozens of people in the church.
Dr Cheng was fatally shot, but his efforts allowed a group of parishioners to disarm and detain the attacker.
Five other people were wounded in the attack, but are all expected to survive their injuries.
"This monster crafted a diabolical plan to lock the church doors with his victims inside in order to lead what he thought were innocent lambs to slaughter," Spitzer said.
"But what he didn't realise was the parishioners at the church that day weren't lambs – they were lions and they fought back against the evil that tried to infiltrate their house of worship.
"Good will always win over evil and hate will not be tolerated anywhere in Orange County. Dr John Cheng is the embodiment of everything good and he laid down his life to protect dozens of others, including his own mother. That act of pure selflessness and heroism will not be forgotten."
According to the Orange County Sheriff's Department, authorities believe Chou's alleged attack was motivated by a fostered grievance against the Taiwanese community due to being upset with the political tensions between China and Taiwan.
He was allegedly involved with a pro-China group where a member described him as "too radical" for the group, according to media reports.
There has been an ongoing conflict between China and Taiwan following the split between the two after World War Two, as Taiwan fights for independence and China wants to peacefully take back control.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has sent her condolences to those affected by the attack.
"I want to convey my sincere condolences on the death of Dr John Cheng & my hopes for a prompt recovery for those injured in the shooting at the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in California," she said.
"Violence is never the answer."
Chou was denied bail Tuesday and his arraignment has been postponed until June 10.
