California church shooting suspect mailed seven-volume ‘diary’ to Chinese-language newspaper

The Chinese man accused of shooting at a Taiwanese church in California, killing one and injuring five, called himself a “destroying angel” in a manifesto sent to a Chinese-language newspaper.

The seven-volume “Diary of an Angel Destroying Independence” was sent to the Los Angeles offices of the World Journal, along with David Chou’s name and Las Vegas home address, the newspaper reported Wednesday night with photos of the handwritten copings, held together. with binder clips.

The newspaper did not report the contents of the logs.

Chou, 68, was charged with one count of murder, five counts of attempted premeditated murder, four counts of possession of an explosive device and criminal enhancement of waiting and firing personal gun causing death inside Geneva Presbyterian Church Banquet Hall on Sunday.

John Cheng, a 52-year-old sports doctor, was killed after throwing a chair at Chou, allowing parishioners to escape. Those who remained were able to tie up Chou with an electric cord until the police arrived.

Investigators say Chou stashed backpacks filled with two 9mm handguns, extra magazines and four Molotov cocktails inside the church, then blocked the doors as he meddled. before opening fire.

Five parishioners, aged 66 to 92, were injured.

Authorities said Chou, a Chinese national, was upset about political tensions between China and Taiwan.

Flowers lie outside the crime scene tape at the Presbyterian Church in Geneva. (Ashley Landis/AP)

‘This monster hatched a diabolical plan to lock the doors of the church with his victims inside in order to lead what he thought were innocent lambs to the slaughterhouse,’ the Orange County prosecutor said. , Todd Spitzer, in a statement.

“But what he didn’t realize was that the parishioners in the church that day were not lambs – they were lions and they fought back against the evil that tried to infiltrate their place of worship. Good will always outweigh evil and hatred will not be tolerated anywhere in Orange County. Dr. John Cheng is the embodiment of all that is good and he sacrificed his life to protect dozens of other people, including his own mother. This act of pure selflessness and heroism will not be forgotten.

If convicted of murder, Chou faces life in prison or the death penalty.