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Dr. John Cheng honored, suspect charged in deadly California church shooting

By Associated Press

May 17, 2022

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VIDEO COURTESY AP
A doctor who was killed is being hailed as a hero for charging a shooter who targeted a Taiwanese church in California. Authorities say the shooter was motivated by his hate for Taiwanese people .
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mina Lee, a 45-year-old Taiwanese immigrant, places flowers and a message at a makeshift memorial for Dr. John Cheng outside his office in Aliso Viejo, Calif., Monday, May 16. Authorities say a gunman in a deadly attack at California church was a Chinese immigrant motivated by hate for Taiwanese people. The shooting killed Cheng and five others were wounded in the attack.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jason Aguilar, left, a senior pastor at Arise Church, comforts Billy Chang, a 67-year-old Taiwanese pastor who survived Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church, during a prayer vigil in Irvine, Calif., Monday, May 16. Authorities say a Chinese-born gunman was motivated by hatred against Taiwan when he chained shut the doors of the church and hid firebombs before opening fire on a gathering of mainly of elderly Taiwanese parishioners.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

People pray during a prayer vigil in Irvine, Calif., Monday, May 16. The vigil was held to honor victims in Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, Calif. Authorities say a Chinese-born gunman was motivated by hatred against Taiwan when he chained shut the doors of the California church and hid firebombs before shooting at a gathering of mainly of elderly Taiwanese parishioners.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Two men chat at a prayer vigil in Irvine, Calif., Monday, May 16. The vigil was held to honor victims in Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, Calif. Authorities say a Chinese-born gunman was motivated by hatred against Taiwan when he chained shut the doors of the church and hid firebombs before opening fire on a gathering of mainly of elderly Taiwanese parishioners.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Billy Chang, a 67-year-old Taiwanese pastor who survived Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church, prays during a prayer vigil in Irvine, Calif., Monday, May 16. Authorities say a Chinese-born gunman was motivated by hatred against Taiwan when he chained shut the doors of the church and hid firebombs before opening fire on a gathering of mainly of elderly Taiwanese parishioners.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

People listen to a speech during a prayer vigil in Irvine, Calif., Monday, May 16. The vigil was held to honor victims in Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, Calif. Authorities say a Chinese-born gunman was motivated by hatred against Taiwan when he chained shut the doors of a California church and hid firebombs before shooting at a gathering of mainly of elderly Taiwanese parishioners.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

A photo of Dr. John Cheng, a 52-year-old victim who was killed in Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church, is displayed outside his office in Aliso Viejo, Calif., Monday, May 16. Authorities say a Chinese-born gunman was motivated by hatred against Taiwan when he chained shut the doors of the church and hid firebombs before shooting at a gathering of mainly of elderly Taiwanese parishioners.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, center, speaks during a news conference on Tuesday, May 17, in Santa Ana, Calif. Spitzer gave an update on the criminal charges in Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer speaks during a news conference on Tuesday, May 17, in Santa Ana, Calif. Spitzer gave an update on the criminal charges in Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church.
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A memorial honoring Dr. John Cheng sits outside his office building on Tuesday, May 17, in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Cheng, 52, was killed in Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church.
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Two women pause at a memorial honoring Dr. John Cheng sits outside his office building on Tuesday, May 17, in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Cheng, 52, was killed in Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church.
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Grace Hung, a patient of Dr. John Cheng, places flowers at a memorial honoring him outside his office building on Tuesday, May 17, in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Cheng, 52, was killed in Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

A man places flowers at a memorial honoring Dr. John Cheng sits outside his office building on Tuesday, May 17, in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Cheng, 52, was killed in Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Flowers and cards are among a memorial honoring Dr. John Cheng outside his office building on Tuesday, May 17, in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Cheng, 52, was killed in Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gabe Kipers, a neighbor of Dr. John Cheng, kneels at a memorial for him outside his office building on Tuesday, May 17, in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Cheng, 52, was killed in Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gabe Kipers, a neighbor of Dr. John Cheng, kneels at a memorial for him outside his office building on Tuesday, May 17, in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Cheng, 52, was killed in Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

A note from a patient is left at a memorial honoring Dr. John Cheng outside his office building on Tuesday, May 17, in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Cheng, 52, was killed in Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Erica Triplett, right, an office manager for Dr. John Cheng, reads a statement outside their office building on Tuesday, May 17, in Aliso Viejo, Calif. Cheng, 52, was killed in Sunday's shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church. At left is Crystal Cole, an executive assistant who worked with Cheng, and Johnna Gherardini, executive director of South Coast Medical Group, where Cheng worked.
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Flowers sit outside crime scene tape at Geneva Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, May 17, in Laguna Woods, Calif. A shooting at the church on Sunday left one dead and five injured.
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Crime scene tape surrounds Geneva Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, May 17, in Laguna Woods, Calif. A shooting at the church on Sunday left one dead and five injured.
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Geneva Presbyterian Church, as seen on Tuesday, May 17, in Laguna Woods, Calif. A shooting at the church on Sunday left one dead and five injured.

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