One person has died and four were seriously injured in a shooting at a California church on Sunday, Orange County police said, a day following a shooting in New York state left ten dead.
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Parishioners were attending a banquet following the morning church service when the gunman began his carnage, authorities said.
They then arrested the shooter and ‘bound his legs with an extension cord and confiscated at least two weapons’ before officers arrived on the scene to subdue him, the Orange County Deputy Chief said. , Jeff Hallock, at a press conference.
“This group of devotees showed a […] heroism and bravery,” said Mr. Hallock. “They have undoubtedly avoided additional injuries and deaths.”
Investigators are still looking for a motive, he added, adding that the alleged shooter, who was not injured in the crime, was believed to be an adult Asian male in his 60s. ‘years.
“Four people are seriously injured,” police wrote on their Twitter account, adding that a “victim died at the scene” of the event.
An emergency call was received at 1:26 p.m. (8:26 p.m. GMT) from the Presbyterian Church of Geneva on Sunday followingnoon, according to law enforcement.
“We have arrested one person and recovered a weapon that may be involved” in the crime, the sheriff’s department said in a tweet.
The police were trying to shed light on this new shooting with the 30 to 40 witnesses present in the church, she also said.
For its part, the office of California Governor Gavin Newsom said it was working with local officials and monitoring the situation.
“No one should have to fear going to their place of worship. Our thoughts are with the victims,” his office tweeted.
“This is shocking and disturbing news, especially less than a day following a mass shooting in Buffalo,” tweeted Democratic Congresswoman Katie Porter, who represents Orange County in Washington.
“This shouldn’t be our new normal.”
According to the sheriff’s department, the church is located in the town of Laguna Woods, 70 kilometers southwest of Los Angeles.
