1 dead, 4 critically injured by gunman at Presbyterian church in California; suspect is in police custody

By CP Staff, Sunday, May 15, 2022

Police vehicles are parked near the scene of a shooting at the Geneva Presbyterian Church on May 15, 2022, in Laguna Woods, California. According to police, the shooting left one person dead, four critically wounded, and one with minor injuries. | Mario Tama/Getty Images

UPDATE at 8:02 PM ET: At a news conference Sunday, authorities said a shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California, that left one person dead occurred at a lunch banquet after a church service. The suspected shooter was identified as an Asian man in his 60s who has no known ties to the church and doesn't live in the community.

Four other people were critically injured in the shooting and one person suffered minor injuries. All victims are adults and have been transported to area hospitals. Some parishioners detained and hog-tied the suspect until police arrived. Authorities described their swift action as an act of “exceptional heroism and bravery.” Police and federal agents did not say if the shooting would be investigated as a hate crime or what the suspect's motive was.

Original report:

One person is reported dead and four others have been critically wounded by a shooter at a California church. Police have apprehended the suspect.

The gunman fired on churchgoers at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods and the weapon used by the suspect has been recovered, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department which has not yet released his identity.

According to The Associated Press, federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also responding to the scene.

Laguna Woods is a city in Orange County located about 10 miles from the University of California Irvine.

This is a developing story, and facts might change as updates become available.