California shootout: gunman opens fire in church, killing one before tying him up

One person has died in a church shooting after a gunman attacked a church during a lunchtime banquet before being handcuffed by members of the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, California

A gunman shot dead one person and seriously injured five others after opening fire at a church.

The man carried out the shooting during a Sunday lunchtime banquet, killing one person and injuring five, before churchgoers arrested him and tied his legs with an electric cable, authorities said.

Police responded to the incident, which took place around 1:30 p.m. (9:30 p.m. UK time) at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, and arrested an unidentified suspect in his 60s, Orange County Deputy Sheriff Jeff Hallock said on a Press conference.

“This group of churchgoers showed … extraordinary heroism and courage as they stepped in to stop the suspect. They undoubtedly prevented further injuries and deaths,” he said.

One person died at the scene and four other victims were seriously injured.

Another person was slightly injured, he said.

All injured were taken to hospitals.

About 30 to 40 people were in the church when the shooting took place, Hallock said.

“At this point we don’t know what the suspect’s motive might be or if he had an intended target or even if it was a hate incident,” Hallock said, adding that authorities believe the suspect is not in the area lives .

Two handguns were found at the scene.

“No one should have to be afraid to go to their house of worship. Our thoughts are with the victims, the community and everyone affected by this tragic event,” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said on Twitter.

It was at least the second mass shooting of the weekend in a United States, which has been plagued by gun violence in recent years.

In Buffalo, New York, on Saturday, a white 18-year-old man opened fire at a convenience store in a predominantly black neighborhood, killing 10 and wounding three in what authorities described as a purely racial attack.