Pastor Billy Chang, front, who was at the the Taiwanese Presbyterian service in Laguna Woods when the shooting broke out, gets an embrace from Pastor KC Liu of the Evangelical Formosan Church of Irvine during a prayer vigil at Christ Our Redeemer (COR) A.M.E. Church in Irvine on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes speaks during a prayer vigil at Christ Our Redeemer (COR) A.M.E. Church in Irvine on Monday, May 16, 2022. Reverend Dr. Ralph E. Williamson hosted the multi-faith prayer vigil in response the the shootings in Laguna Woods and Buffalo, “The purpose of the vigil is to provide a space for community solidarity and unity amid the dark realities of hate and violence in our society.”(Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Rev. Jason Aguilar, left, embraces an emotional Pastor Billy Chang, who was at the the Taiwanese Presbyterian service in Laguna Woods when the shooting broke out, during a prayer vigil at Christ Our Redeemer (COR) A.M.E. Church in Irvine on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Faith and civic leaders gather for a prayer vigil at Christ Our Redeemer (COR) A.M.E. Church in Irvine on Monday, May 16, 2022. Pictured, from left, are Reverend Dr. Ralph E. Williamson of COR, Pastor KC Liu of the Evangelical Formosan Church of Irvine, Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan and Rabbi Peter Levi, regional director Anti-Defamation League Orange County/Long Beach. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Pastor Billy Chang, who was at the the Taiwanese Presbyterian service in Laguna Woods when the shooting broke out, is overcome with emotion during a prayer vigil at Christ Our Redeemer (COR) A.M.E. Church in Irvine on Monday, May 16, 2022. Pastor Billy, who used to be a pastor at the Taiwanese Presbyterian Church but was visiting from Taiwan, was on the stage when the shooting began and he helped subdue the shooter. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Turkan Yildirim, left, a Muslim from the Pacifica Institute prays during a prayer vigil at Christ Our Redeemer (COR) A.M.E. Church in Irvine on Monday, May 16, 2022. Reverend Dr. Ralph E. Williamson of COR hosted the multi-faith prayer vigil in response the the shootings in Laguna Woods and Buffalo. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Joanna Hsieh of Tustin joins in prayer for Pastor Billy Chang during a prayer vigil at Christ Our Redeemer (COR) A.M.E. Church in Irvine on Monday, May 16, 2022. Reverend Dr. Ralph E. Williamson hosted the multi-faith prayer vigil in response the the shootings in Laguna Woods and Buffalo, “The purpose of the vigil is to provide a space for community solidarity and unity amid the dark realities of hate and violence in our society.”(Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Faith and civic leaders huddle to pray over Pastor Billy Chang, who was at the Taiwanese Presbyterian service in Laguna Woods when the shooting broke out, during a prayer vigil at Christ Our Redeemer (COR) A.M.E. Church in Irvine on Monday, May 16, 2022. Reverend Dr. Ralph E. Williamson hosted the multi-faith prayer vigil in response the the shootings in Laguna Woods and Buffalo, “The purpose of the vigil is to provide a space for community solidarity and unity amid the dark realities of hate and violence in our society.”(Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, right, speaks during a prayer vigil at Christ Our Redeemer (COR) A.M.E. Church in Irvine on Monday, May 16, 2022. Reverend Dr. Ralph E. Williamson hosted the multi-faith prayer vigil in response the the shootings in Laguna Woods and Buffalo, “The purpose of the vigil is to provide a space for community solidarity and unity amid the dark realities of hate and violence in our society.”(Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Pastor Billy Chang, who was at the the Taiwanese Presbyterian service in Laguna Woods, describes to the media what happened when the shooting began and how he helped subdue the shooter, during a prayer vigil at Christ Our Redeemer (COR) A.M.E. Church in Irvine on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The event welcomed people from all walks of life. It was led by COR’s Senior Miniister, Rev. Dr. Ralph E. Williamson. He was joined by other faith leaders representing Orange County’s Christian, Islamic and Jewish communities, as well as civic leaders and representatives from law enforcement.
During the service, pastor KC Liu of Evangelical Formosan Church of Irvine noted that the suspected Laguna Woods gunman, David Chou, 68, of Las Vegas, hoped to stoke longstanding tensions between Taiwan and China.
“We cannot give in to the shooter’s ideology, ” Liu said. “He wanted to divide us.”
Liu called on the community to stand even firmer together.
Notes expressing anger toward the people of Taiwan stemming from Taiwan’s separation from mainland China were found in the suspect’s vehicle, Orange County Sheriff’s officials said. Sheriff Don Barnes suggested hate may have been a factor in the shooting on Sunday.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told congregants he went into crime scene in the wake of the shooting. He described seeing where a gunman hid his weapons, and wasted plates of food that spilled onto the ground as shots rang out.
“I could feel the trauma in that room,” Spitzer said.
Pastor Billy Chang, a former pastor of the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church targeted on Sunday, was also among the event’s speakers. He had recently returned from Taiwan and was inside Geneva Presbyterian Church on Sunday when the gunfire broke out, and broke down in tears while speaking at the vigil.
Later, in an interview after the vigil, he remembered thinking he “had to do something” before rushing at the shooter and striking him with a chair.
Pastor Billy Chang was among tonight’s speakers. He was inside Geneva Presbyterian on Sunday, and broke down in tears while speaking at the vigil. Later, he gave an interview to reporters. @ocregisterpic.twitter.com/8YxvRxmJAi
After the gunman was subdued, Chang saw Dr. John Cheng lying wounded on the floor. Cheng died in the shooting, four others were shot and injured. Chang struggled to describe what he felt at that moment.
Chang did not know Cheng personally, but he said he knew the doctor’s parents. The physician being hailed as a hero had been grieving the recent death of his father, Chang said.
One of the surviving victims had been released from the hospital as of Monday, Chang said. Two more were expected to go home from the hospital later that evening.
