Multiple people shot California church in Laguna Woods Orange County one person detained casualties
Mass shooting during Taiwanese congregation at Orange County Presbyterian church claims one life while five are wounded: Police have a suspect in custody and recovered the weapon they believe was used
One person has been killed while at least five others were shot and wounded Sunday at a church in Laguna Woods, California where the majority of residents are seniorsSix people were struck in total by the gunfire, one of which suffered fatal wounds and died at the sceneFour of the other victims are said to be critically wounded and one suffered minor injuriesThere was a major response from Orange County Sheriff’s officials including response from the airSheriff’s department said it detained a suspect and recovered a gun that may have been used in the shootingThere was also no word on a possible motive for Sunday’s shootingA lunch meeting of a Vietnamese church was taking place at the time, meaning most of those in the building were Taiwanese or of Taiwanese descent
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One person has been killed and five others have been shot at a church north of Laguna Beach, in southern California.
Six people were struck by gunfire, one of whom suffered fatal wounds and died at the scene at Geneva Presbyterian Church in the small city of Laguna Woods.
Four of the other victims are said to be critically wounded while a fifth suffered minor injuries.
Orange County Fire Authority said it was on the scene treating victims and taking a number of people to hospital shortly before 1:25pm on Sunday afternoon. All of the victims were adults.
About 30 people witnessed the violence, said Carrie Braun, a sheriff’s spokesperson. The majority of those inside the church are believed to be of Taiwanese descent, Braun said.
Investigators were looking at many factors, including whether the bloodshed could be a hate crime and whether the gunman was known to the church community, she said.
There was no word on a possible motive for the shooting A lunch meeting of a Vietnamese church was taking place at the time, meaning most of those in the building were Taiwanese or of Taiwanese descent.
The city of 18,000 consists of Laguna Woods Village, a retirement community for people 55 and older once known as Leisure World.
More than 80% of residents in the city about 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles are at least 65-year-old.
A number of people have been shot at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods
Investigators gather outside the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California, on Sunday after a fatal shooting
All manner of emergency vehicles could be seen outsider the church on Sunday afternoon
The Orange County Sheriff gave details of what was unfolding on Sunday afternoon on Twitter
The shooting happened in the small city of Laguna Woods, about 55 miles southeast of Los Angeles
The shooting occurred at around 1:25pm on Sunday in the retirement community of Laguna Woods
Multiple victims have been shot. More details to follow, PIO en route,’ the Orange County Sheriff wrote on Twitter on Sunday afternoon.
Minutes after their initial reports, the department reported that one person had been detained, and that deputies had recovered a gun that may have been involved in the shooting.
Paramedics with Orange County Fire Authority were working to treat victims at the scene and transport those who required further care to area hospitals.
Special agents with the Los Angeles branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were said to be en route to assist with the investigation.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said on Twitter that he was closely monitoring the situation.
‘No one should have to fear going to their place of worship. Our thoughts are with the victims, community, and all those impacted by this tragic event,’ the tweet said.
The incident occurred in an area with a cluster of houses of worship, including Catholic, Lutheran and Methodist churches and a Jewish synagogue.
A number of police cars, fire trucks and ambulances could be seen on scene outside the church
A firetruck is seen outside the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods
A passing driver captured images of a number of a fire engines that were on site following the shooting
A helicopter could be seen racing towards the scene on footage shared on Facebook
One person caught in traffic close to the church tweeted a picture of the scene on Sunday lunchtime
Authorities urged the public to avoid the area as El Toro Road was closed between Calle Sonora and Canyon Wren as the investigation continued.
It was at least the second mass shooting of the weekend in the United States, which has been plagued with gun violence in recent years.
On Saturday a white supremacist killed 10 people during a shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo.
Payton Gendron, 18, is alleged to have shot upwards of 13 people, the majority of whom were black.
Authorities say they suspect it was a racially-driven attack.
The shooter is also believed to have livestreamed the rampage. Gendron pled not guilty to first-degree murder.
He’s due back in court on Thursday, and is currently on suicide watch.
The Geneva Presbyterian Church at 24301 El Toro Rd, Laguna Woods, California is pictured on the church’s Facebook page.
A file photo of how the church normally looks, as pictured from its Facebook page
