Introduction to the Case
Three years after a shooting at a Laguna Woods church left one dead and five others wounded, the suspected killer has signaled a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity defense in state court and the question of whether to seek the death penalty appears to be on the minds of prosecutors in federal court.
Background of the Shooting
The seemingly hate-driven attack on May 15, 2022, on the Taiwanese Presbyterian congregation on El Toro Road just outside the expansive retirement community of Laguna Woods Village shocked the quiet community and led to a pair of criminal court cases, in state and federal courts, against David Wenwei Chou, now 71.
State Court Proceedings
The state case in Orange County Superior court has proceeded along much faster. Chou, a Las Vegas resident, has remained in OC jail, not in federal custody. Earlier this year, a Superior Court judge ruled that Chou can face an Orange County jury on special-circumstances murder and attempted-murder charges with hate-crime enhancements.
Insanity Defense
Currently, in that case, Chou is under evaluation by psychiatrists after pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, court records show.
During a Friday, May 9, hearing, attorneys told a judge that one psychiatrist still needs to meet Chou at the jail. An insanity defense requires a determination that the defendant did not understand the nature of his or her actions during the crimes and was unable to understand that they were wrong.
Possible Outcomes
If successful, Chou almost certainly would be sent to a state hospital.
Prosecutors with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office have not said whether they will seek the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. That decision is DA Todd Spitzer’s, after he reviews the evidence, hears from the defense, and consults with his top prosecutors and supervisors.
Federal Case Proceedings
The federal case against Chou — which accuses him of attacking the congregants “because of their actual or perceived Taiwanese national origin and Presbyterian faith” — had, until recently, moved much more slowly. Chou has not yet had to appeared in federal court, records show.
Last month, federal public defenders informed the court that federal prosecutors were asking Chou’s defense team to make a presentation to the Attorney General’s Review Committee on Capital Cases.
Death Penalty Consideration
Federal prosecutors would not comment on the filing or the timing of any presentation. But a “Justice Manual” posted on the U.S. Department of Justice website cites a consultation with the U.S. attorney or an assistant U.S. attorney general and the department’s Capital Case Section as part of the review process for whether to seek the death penalty.
President Donald Trump, soon after assuming office in January, issued an executive order restoring the federal death penalty. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in early February issued a memo lifting a moratorium on federal executions that had been adopted by her predecessor, Merrick Garland. Last month, Bondi, for the first time, directed prosecutors to seek the death penalty — against Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.
Testimony and Evidence
According to testimony during Chou’s January preliminary hearing in state Superior Court, Chou attended a guest sermon by a former leader of the congregation who spent time in Taiwan, then joined the congregation in a luncheon. Prosecutors allege he used padlocks, super glue and nails to seal most of the doors to the church dining hall and then opened fire on the mostly elderly church members.
Gunfire struck Henry Ang. Legally blind, Ang was being helped out of the church by a friend when they realized the doors couldn’t be opened, he testified.
“I heard the sound of the gun — ‘pop, pop, pop,’ ” Ang testified in January. “When I laid down, I feel the bullet come into my foot. It felt hot — and pain.”
Dr. John Cheng, a Laguna Niguel resident and sports-medicine and family doctor with an Aliso Viejo practice, rushed at Chou, witnesses said.
Cheng was shot twice, suffering fatal wounds.
Authorities credited him with giving other congregants the time to subdue Chou, likely saving their lives.
Conclusion
The case of David Wenwei Chou is a complex and tragic one, with both state and federal courts considering his guilt and potential punishment. As the proceedings continue, it remains to be seen whether Chou will be found guilty, and if so, what his punishment will be. The question of whether to seek the death penalty is a significant one, and it will be important to follow the developments in this case.
FAQs
Q: What happened on May 15, 2022, at the Laguna Woods church?
A: A shooting occurred, leaving one dead and five others wounded.
Q: Who is the suspected killer?
A: David Wenwei Chou, a 71-year-old Las Vegas resident.
Q: What is Chou’s defense?
A: Not guilty by reason of insanity.
Q: What are the possible outcomes for Chou?
A: If found guilty, he could face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. If found not guilty by reason of insanity, he could be sent to a state hospital.
Q: Is the federal case against Chou moving forward?
A: Yes, although it has moved more slowly than the state case.
Q: What is the significance of the presentation to the Attorney General’s Review Committee on Capital Cases?
A: It is part of the review process for whether to seek the death penalty.
Originally Published: May 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM PDT
