Members of various faiths all through Orange County gathered in Irvine Monday night to pay honor and their respects to the victims of the mindless capturing that occurred at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods on Sunday afternoon.
Dozens of individuals have been in attendance at Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine for the inter-faith vigil, together with members of Orange County Sheriff’s Division who responded to the scene and Pastor Billy Chang — the person being honored on the luncheon simply moments earlier than the capturing passed off.
When Pastor Chang walked in, a spherical of applause erupted from the gang, after particulars emerged revealing that he was not solely one of many many churchgoers who labored to detain the suspect, however the one who charged at him, chair in hand, and known as for different’s to assist.
CBS reporters spoke with Chang following the conclusion of the vigil, the place he detailed all of the ideas that ran via his head and the second that he and his former congregation got here collectively to stop additional carnage.
“When he shoot about seven or eight… I see our member, our congregation hiding below the desk,” he stated.
Chang was beforehand the pastor for the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church, who maintain Sunday morning service at Geneva Presbyterian weekly. He had moved again to Taiwan together with his spouse two years in the past and was visiting for the primary time for the reason that coronavirus pandemic started.
“Anyone needed to take some motion,” he continued. “I see his gun is down, so I say, ‘It is a good probability.” So, I’m going after him.”
He grabbed the very first thing he may discover, a chair and ran in the direction of the capturing suspect.
“I convey the chair to hit the gunman. I am afraid he would choose up his gun to shoot once more, so I take advantage of my complete power,” he detailed, motioning what he did to carry the person down earlier than calling from assist from his former congregants.
Whereas he continued to carry him down, with the assist of Michael Tsai, who additionally spoke with CBS reporters on Monday, his spouse grabbed the gun and hid it within the church’s fridge.
“I am nonetheless younger, I believe I’ve the power to combat with the shooter,” Chang continued. “I am grateful as a result of we stopped the tragedy.”
When the churchgoers observed Dr. John Cheng, the native doctor who was fatally shot, mendacity on the ground, they realized that he had been struck by gunfire thrice.
Cheng was solely in attendance at Sunday’s luncheon so he may convey his mom to church, so she may greet her former pastor.
“Pray for the Cheng household,” he stated, combating again tears. “Due to Dr. Cheng, and his mom, come to church for me.”
“His mom was crying, ‘My son, my son, my son,’ stated Mrs. Chang.
Native legislation enforcement has hailed the acts of these Cheng, Tsai and different members as heroic, stating that they put their very own lives on the road to avoid wasting that of others within the face of imminent hazard.
“That group of churchgoers displayed what we imagine is outstanding heroism and bravado in intervening to cease the suspect. They undoubtedly prevented extra accidents and fatalities,” stated Orange County Sheriff’s Division Undersheriff Jeff Hallock on Saturday.
