Chinese-American charged with shooting at consulate in Los Angeles
(CBS) LOS ANGELES - A 67-year-old Las Vegas man was charged Monday with firing shots at the Chinese consulate in downtown Los Angeles, authorities said.
CBS Los Angeles reports Jeff Baoliang Zhang, a naturalized U.S. citizen, allegedly fired his semiautomatic firearm at the consulate as part of a protest against alleged human-rights abuses in China.
Prosecutors said that on Thursday afternoon, Zhang, who's originally from Shanghai, allegedly approached a guard and got into an argument with him after the guard took a sign from him and threw it in the trash. The Los Angeles Times reports Zhang then began firing rounds from a handgun, hitting the building. No one was injured.
Deputy District Attorney John Gilligan said Zhang was charged with assault with a firearm and shooting at an inhabited dwelling.
LAPD spokesman Richard French said Zhang was "part of a small protest related to human rights in mainland China."French said he acted alone, fired on the consulate nine times, and then drove away in his car. Zhang was arrested Thursday afternoon when he surrendered to authorities. He is being held without bail.
Prosecutors say if Zhang is convicted, he could face more than 20 years in jail.