Nearly four years after gunfire shattered a Sunday luncheon at a Laguna Woods church, the long running federal case has finally landed in a Santa Ana courtroom. The man accused in the attack was arraigned this week on a sweeping federal indictment, pulling a high-profile hate crimes prosecution back into public view. The federal proceeding is moving ahead alongside separate state murder and attempted murder cases that remain pending in Orange County.
The shooting unfolded on May 15, 2022, during a luncheon hosted by the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, when a visitor allegedly opened fire on congregants. Parishioners tackled the gunman, tied him with extension cords, and held him until deputies arrived. Dr. John Cheng, 52, was killed after charging the attacker, and five others were treated for gunshot wounds. Investigators later reported finding incendiary devices and writings that suggested the attack was driven by political anger over China-Taiwan tensions, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Federal Indictment and Charges
A federal grand jury returned a 98-count indictment in May 2023 that accuses the suspect of targeting victims because of their national origin and faith. The indictment includes charges for obstructing the free exercise of religion, alleged violations of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, weapons and explosives offenses, and multiple counts for using a firearm in a crime of violence. The U.S. Department of Justice has said the charges carry a potential sentence of death or life in prison without parole, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Arraignment Moves Case Forward
This week, the case formally moved into federal court when the defendant was arraigned on the indictment in Santa Ana, CBS News Los Angeles reported. Prosecutors read the charges in open court, and the proceeding started the process of setting pretrial schedules and deadlines. Federal prosecutors say they will continue pressing the hate crimes and related counts while Orange County prosecutors pursue their separate state-level murder and attempted murder case.
Community Remembers the Victim
In the years since the shooting, parishioners and local officials have repeatedly described Dr. Cheng as a hero who tackled the gunman and gave others a chance to escape. Reporting has detailed the deep shock that rippled through the older, close-knit Taiwanese American congregation and highlighted the quick response by churchgoers who subdued the attacker, the Los Angeles Times reported. Community leaders say the new federal activity in Santa Ana revives painful memories and keeps concerns about violence aimed at Asian American communities front and center…