California – An Asian man in his 60s opened fire at churchgoers, killing one person and injuring five senior citizens at a Southern California church on Sunday. The man opened fire during a lunch reception at the Church before being stopped and hog-tied by parishioners in what a sheriff’s official called an act of “exceptional heroism and bravery.”

Four among the five wounded are being treated for critical gunshot injuries during the violence at Geneva Presbyterian Church in the city of Laguna Woods, Orange County Sheriff’s Department officials said.

The suspect was taken into custody, two handguns were recovered at the scene according to police officials.

Between 30 and 40 members of the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church were gathered for lunch after a morning church service at Geneva when gunfire erupted shortly before 1:30 p.m., officials said. When deputies arrived, parishioners had the gunman hog-tied and in custody.

“That group of churchgoers displayed what we believe is exceptional heroism and bravery in intervening to stop the suspect. They undoubtedly prevented additional injuries and fatalities,” Hallock said. “I think it’s safe to say that had people not intervened, it could have been much worse.”

The afternoon lunch reception was honoring a former pastor of the Taiwanese congregation, according to a statement from the Presbytery of Los Ranchos, a church administrative body.

The US is facing a spite of gun violence with the most recent incident just a day ago, when an 18-year-old man shot and killed 10 people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York.

Bishop Michael W. Fisher of the Diocese of Buffalo issued a statement on Twitter condemning the shootings in Buffalo.

Bishop Fisher said that “what unfortunately has become an all-too-common occurrence in this country has now shown its abhorrently evil face in Buffalo as we have now learned that 10 innocent souls have lost their lives here.
-AP/CNA