He "lashed out at the individual" who shot up a California church. Dr. Cheng is now recognized as a "hero"

By Brahmjot Kaur —

Dr. John Cheng is being remembered as a “loving, kind and humble” member of the community, who was shot to death at a Southern California Taiwanese church in which five others were also wounded.

Cheng was a 52-year-old sports medicine doctor and the father of two children.

He and his mother were attending lunch at Irvine Taiwan Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, about 45 miles south of Los Angeles, when the shooting began.

He jumped on the attacker to stop him, but suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the attempt.

Authorities pronounced him dead at the scene.

During a news conference Monday, Sheriff Don Barnes called Cheng a "hero" for trying to protect others in the church.

Offering in honor of Dr. John Cheng, 52, who was killed in the shooting at the Presbyterian Church in Aliso Viejo, California, on May 17, 2022. MIKE BLAKE / REUTERS

“Dr. Cheng is known to have lashed out at the individual, the suspect, attempted to disarm him, which allowed other parishioners to intercede and take the suspect into custody,” Barnes said.

[California Church Shooting Investigated as Hate Crime: Chinese Migrant Shot Worshipers for Being Taiwanese]

"Without Dr. Cheng's actions, there is no question that there would be numerous additional victims of this crime

," Barnes added.

The suspect, David Chou, 68, was arrested and charged with one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

"A loving, kind and humble man"

In addition to his work as a doctor, Cheng was an active member of the community, including volunteering for the local high school football team.

Shooting at a beauty salon investigated as a racial hate crime in Dallas

May 17, 202200:28

“Dr.

Cheng was a loving, kind and humble man.

He put the needs of others ahead of his own,” the school's athletic director, Andrew Mashburn, wrote in an email to NBC Asian America.

“Giving up his Fridays in the fall to be off the football field, ready to help players with any injuries.

Our coach was able to refer many of our students to his office where he gave them priority help,” he added.

['The Great Replacement': The Racist (and False) Theory Behind the Fatal Buffalo Shooting]

He added that Cheng also provided discounted annual physicals for students and donated money to the school's athletic programs.

“I am not surprised to hear the situation: him doing what he did.

His needs were always secondary to those of others, and his heroic actions demonstrated this.

Our hearts go out to his family, colleagues and loved ones.

He will be greatly missed in our community and he will truly be irreplaceable," Mashburn said.