California Church Shooting Sees One Killed, Others Injured

A shooting at a California church left one person dead and critically injured four others on Sunday in Laguna Woods.

A suspect was held at the scene of the incident Sunday at Geneva Presbyterian Church, the Orange County Sheriff's Office reported on Twitter.

In addition to the people who were critically injured, another victim suffered minor injuries in the incident, the department said. The victims, all adults, have been taken to area hospitals.

"We have detained one person and have recovered a weapon that may be involved," officials said in a tweet.

Information regarding a motive has not been released.

Carrie Braun, director of public affairs and community engagement with the sheriff's department, told USA Today that many of those in the church when the shooting occurred were Taiwanese.

Law enforcement responded to the church at 1:26 p.m. local time, according to reports, and the sheriff's department has asked for "patience as this event unfolds."

"We are working to get information out as quickly as possible," the department said in a tweet.

The incident prompted a response from the governor's office.

"We are actively monitoring the shooting at a church in Laguna Woods and working closely with local law enforcement," Governor Gavin Newsom's office said in a statement released on Twitter. "No one should have to fear going to their place of worship. Our thoughts are with the victims, community, and all those impacted by this tragic event."

Orange County Fire Authority officials were also on scene, and the Associated Press reported FBI agents and officials with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will respond.

The city of Laguna Woods in Southern California is in an area of "several senior-oriented residential communities," according to the Laguna Woods History Center. It has roots as a community for those 52 and older after its development in the early 1960s and was incorporated as Orange County's 32nd city in 1999.

Census demographics for the city, about 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles, show more than 80 percent of the residents are at least 65 years of age.

The church shooting came after 2022's deadliest mass shooting on Saturday, where officials say suspect Payton Gendron gunned down victims at Tops Friendly Market in a racially motivated attack. That shooting killed 10 people, and officials said 11 of the 13 people shot were Black.

Gendron reportedly posted 180 pages of hate-filled writings online, according to The New York Times, in a document that allegedly references racist, anti-immigrant and anti-Semitic beliefs.

Newsweek reached out to the Orange County Sheriff's Office for more information.

5/15/22, 7:35 p.m.: This story has been updated with additional information and background.