John Cheng, MD, charged the gunman at Geneva Presbyterian Church, authorities said. Dr. Cheng “took heroic action” and helped others subdue the gunman, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said at a press conference.
California Medical Association President Robert Wailes, MD, described Dr. Cheng as a prominent sports medicine physician in a May 16 statement.
“Officials said that were it not for the actions of Dr. Cheng, there most certainly would have been many more lives lost,” the statement said. “The California Medical Association — and the physicians of California — mourn this tragic loss of life and offer our deepest condolences to Dr. Cheng’s family, friends, colleagues and patients.”
Dr. Cheng worked at Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based South Coast Medical Group. The practice didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment May 17.
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