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Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A Nevada man has been charged with 98 counts of federal hate crimes and weapons and explosives offenses, including the murder of one person and attempted murder of 44 others, for his actions during the shooting and attempted bombing at the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church on May 15, 2022, the Justice Department announced today.
David Chou, 69, of Las Vegas, killed one person and attempted to kill 44 others using firearms and explosive devices that he carried inside the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Southern California, according to the indictment returned Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Santa Ana. In addition to the victim who Chou fatally shot, five others were injured by gunfire. Chou allegedly acted because of the victims’ national origin and religion, and he intentionally obstructed the victims’ religious exercise.
Specifically, the indictment charges Chou with 98 violations of federal law:
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, Chou faces a maximum penalty of death or life in prison without parole. He is currently in state custody pending state criminal charges.
The FBI Los Angeles Field Office, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Scally of the Santa Ana Branch Office and Susan Har of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section and Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Ciaran McEvoy
Public Information Officer
ciaran.mcevoy@usdoj.gov
(213) 894-4465