HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (KGO) -- Seven people are dead and one is critically injured following shootings at two farms in Half Moon Bay this afternoon, a source confirmed to ABC7 News. The violence appeared to stem from a workplace grudge, according to authorities one triggered by a $100 equipment bill from his boss for damage to heavy construction equipment. Zhao, 66, has been charged with seven counts of murder and one of attempted murder. "The question was whether there is any evidence of a copycat of Monterey Park. The coroner's office named six of the victims: Zhishen Liu, 73, of San Francisco; Marciano Martinez Jimenez, 50, of Moss Beach, California; Aixiang Zhang, 74, of San Francisco; Qizhong Cheng, 66, of Half Moon Bay; Jingzhi Lu, 64, of Half Moon Bay; and Yetao Bing, 43, whose hometown was unknown. Detectives from the Vacaville Police Department on Wednesday arrested two men, including one from Pacifica, in connection with a 2022 murder in the East Bay. Deputies who tackled Zhao immediately searched him for weapons and he appeared to be unarmed. San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe handled the hearing personally and spoke to reporters outside the courthouse after the hearing. A suspect, Chunli Zhao, is arrested by law enforcement personnel after a mass shooting at two locations in the coastal northern California city of Half Moon Bay, California, Jan. 23, 2023 in a still image from video. Related Articles And. Updated: 9:27 AM PST January 24, 2023. In a phone call from the San Mateo County Jail to an NBC Bay Area reporter, Zhao admitted to the killings and expressed remorse for the bloodshed. Oates said there were three mobile homes and six trailers for employees on the premises. Many of the people who worked in the mushroom farms lived on site with their families in trailers and some of the children reportedly witnessed the violence. San Mateo County deputies were called to California Terra Garden, a mushr Feb 12, 2023 8:40pm; In Half Moon . The shooting illuminated deep concerns about living conditions among migrant workers living on farms across San Mateo County. ", Volunteers help families displaced by HMB shootings. He had legal paperwork to live in the country at one time and investigators were determining whether it was still valid, Wagstaffe said. A farmworker accused of killing seven people in shootings at two Northern California mushroom farms has been charged with seven counts of murder. Gavin Newsom traveled to the Northern California community of. Crime and Public Safety | Tuesday's shooting followed another mass shooting in which a gunman killed 11 people at a dance studio in Monterey Park, a Los Angeles suburb. Half Moon Bay mass shooting devastating to local farmworker community The U.S. has seen 39 mass shootings so far this month. Stay informed with the newest Half Moon Bay Review headlines, breaking news, traffic alerts, and contest information weekly. They clarified conflicting information and detailed what investigators know so far about the accused gunman, 66-year-old Chunli Zhao, and how the mass shooting happened. The suspect in a deadly mass shooting at two Northern California farms was charged with seven counts of murder, the local district attorney said. "They weren't happening as planned.". "The Mountain Mushroom Farm, the first location, was where the suspect was employed.". Chunli Zhao, dressed in a red jail jumpsuit, held his head down as he entered the not-guilty plea through a Mandarin translator at the San Mateo County Hall of Justice. Wagstaffe said the case will move forward the right way, through the court of law, and not through the public eye. But the victims' families get justice through a fair trial. The next hearing in Zhaos case was set for May 3, at which point a judge is expected to set a date for that preliminary hearing. The local newspaper group reported that he covered his face with a piece of paper while entering and leaving the courtroom, saying only the word "yes" through an interpreter when asked by a judge to confirm his name. Half Moon Bay mass shooting suspect appears in court. A video shows Chunli Zhao, 67, the suspect in the killing of Seven people, being taken into custody in Half Moon Bay on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. Zhao turned to look at them, then hopped onto a forklift and headed toward an encampment on the farm where he and the sisters lived. The charges against Zhao include additional allegations that could result in the death penalty or life in prison without parole, though Gov. Bay Area News Group) Show Caption The deadliest mass murder in San Mateo County history unfolded at two Chinese-owned mushroom farms - California Terra Garden tucked off Highway . Tags: Associated Press, courts, crime, California. Chunli Zhao, 66, faces seven counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in connection to the deadly Jan. 23 rampage that spanned two farms. She is also happy the suspect was arrested. Prosecutors filed the . The subject was still seated in the vehicle, Allen said. A semi-automatic handgun was found in the suspect's car that had been legally purchased, authorities said. They say the Sheriff's Office is the lead investigative agency at this time. He declined to comment further Wednesday, saying he would defer to law enforcement. A court. San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe told BuzzFeed News that his office argued that Zhao continues to pose a threat to public safety and because he is not a US citizen, "he has plenty motive for flight.". Erlin Ortiz and her sister, Miriam Ortiz, pack mushrooms at the farm where Zhao is accused of killing four people. Sneak peek of the Examiner real estate section. Seven people are dead and one is critically injured following shootings at two farms in Half Moon Bay this afternoon, a source confirmed to ABC7 News. Zhao has lived in the United States for at least a dozen years, Wagstaffe said, adding he had legal paperwork to live in the country at one time and investigators were determining whether it was still valid. HALF MOON BAY - A 75-year-old man on a bicycle died after being hit by an unlicensed driver in a SUV in Half Moon Bay on Thursday, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said.The bicyclist, identified by the county coroner's office as Wang Jiuxiang, died following the collision reported around 3 p.m. Thursday in the 500 block of Kelly Half Moon Bay Mayor Deborah Penrose also released a statement, saying in part: "My colleagues and I on the Half Moon Bay City Council are appalled and saddened at this terrible incident, which has completely shocked our community. We thank law enforcement for their swift response and actions. The two were roommates and worked at a restaurant, and the man, identified as Jingjiu Wang, filed a temporary restraining order against Zhao that was granted but is no longer in effect. Zhao made his initial court appearance on Wednesday afternoon in Redwood City. County and state officials have described the workers dwellings at California Terra Garden as deplorable, with families living in shacks with leaky roofs and no running water or kitchens. The woman, Alice Ortega, said her boyfriend, Martinez Jimenez, was a longtime employee at the farm and had worked with the suspected shooter there years ago, but she didn't remember her boyfriend ever mentioning him. I am assuming there is some vendetta.". "Half Moon Bay is a beloved and tight-knit community, and we all stand with them and the families of the victims during this dark hour.". And that was terrifying," explains Sarah Prentice. The database tracks every mass killing defined as four dead, not including the offender in the U.S. since 2006. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Wagstaffe, speaking outside the courthouse, declined to share any additional details on a motive in the killing of Zhao's current and former coworkers, saying he wanted to keep the details out of the public eye to ensure a fair trial. MORE: There have been more mass shootings in US than days in 2023, database shows. It comes after the municipality took part in the Municipal Investment Forum, where lar Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph.. . Appearing behind a glass pane in the courtroom and wearing a red jail jumpsuit with his head bowed, Zhao was far less demonstrative than at his last hearing. Family ID's worker killed in Half Moon Bay shootings. ABC7 was told the Holy Family Children's Center went on lockdown around 3:20 p.m. A family reunification center has been set up at the IDES Hall on 735 Main Street. Diablo, Stephen Curry surprises Bay Area kids with Warriors shopping spree. Zhao attempted to yell something to a nearby TV news cameraman but he was tackled facedown and placed in handcuffs. Several people reported that relocating allowed them to have a good night's sleep again, added Guerrero. Even though Zhao drove to the substation, Sheriffs Captain Eamonn Allen said he would not describe the arrest as a self-surrender. Now more than ever it's important for the community to come together and be there for one another.". TheFarmworker Caravan, an organization that has been conducting a relief drive to provide support for farm workers impacted by recent flooding and the Half Moon Bay mass shooting, is asking for donations and volunteers to help with their efforts. Renato Juarez Perez told the news group that Jose and Pedro Romero Perez, who were shot at California Terra Garden, were brothers who had recently moved to the area to be close to family. In 2013, Zhao was accused of threatening to split a coworkers head open with a knife and separately tried to suffocate the man with a pillow, the Chronicle reported, based on court documents. For certain, we thank the outpouring of thoughts and support from the community. Zhao was arrested about two hours after the shooting as he sat in his parked car outside the sheriff's substation in Half Moon Bay. NBC Bay Area cited police sources with direct knowledge of the investigation to report that Zhao had told investigators that he had been disrespected by co-workers in the years leading up to the shootings. People have stopped to pray, or just take a few quiet moments to reflect on the events of the past few days. Three have struck California since Jan. 16, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Community mourns Half Moon Bay victims at interfaith service, makeshift memorial, Deadly gunfire shatters the laid-back lifestyle of big surf mecca Half Moon Bay, 'Scourge of gun violence;' Local politicians react to Half Moon Bay mass shooting, AG Bonta warns of crowdfunding scams in wake of Half Moon Bay, Monterey Park shootings, Half Moon Bay mass shooting devastating to local farmworker community. Authorities say Zhao then drove to Concord Farms, where he worked until 2015, and began shooting there. He never mentioned Zhao or said anything about problems with other workers. They were also looking into his prior contact with law enforcement. Chunli Zhao, 66, showed little emotion while denying the charges against him in the Jan. 23 attack, which ranks as the deadliest mass shooting in San Mateo . Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. Zhao was later taken into custody in the parking lot of a sheriff's office station in a moment that was captured on video by local news outlets. Sheriff Corpus said the victims were Asian and Latin migrant farm workers. A farmworker accused of killing seven people in back-to-back shootings at two Half Moon Bay mushroom farms was charged Wednesday with seven counts of murder and one of attempted murder. All Rights Reserved. The charges include additional allegations that could result in the death penalty or life in prison without parole, though Gov. HALF MOON BAY, Calif. Seven people were killed in two related shootings Monday at agricultural facilities in a California coastal community south of San . SOUTHPORT, Fla. (WMBB) A locally owned bay county company has become the latest victim in an organized crime spree. Prosecutors also. The sheriff's office says a weapon was located in Zhao's vehicle. California Gov. Victims were adults and a mixture of Hispanic and Asian descent. The criminal complaint charges Zhao in the order that investigators believe the killings and attempted killing occurred, Wagstaffe said. It was a very hectic scene. It was California's third mass shooting in eight days, includingthe killing of 11 in Monterey Parkin Los Angeles County amid Lunar New Year celebrations Saturday, and followed the killing of a teenage mother, her baby and six others at a home in Tulare County in the Central Valley on Jan. 16. The shootings in Half Moon Bay and Monterey Park followed the killing of a teenage mother, her baby and four others at a home in Californias Central Valley on Jan. 16. The San Mateo County Coroner's Office has named six of the seven victims: Zhishen Liu, 73, of San Francisco; Marciano Martinez Jimenez, 50, of Moss Beach; Aixiang Zhang, 74, of San Francisco; Qizhong Cheng, 66, of Half Moon Bay; Jingzhi Lu, 64, of Half Moon Bay; and Yetao Bing, 43, whose hometown was listed as unknown. Prosecutors say Zhao killed four workers and severely wounded a fifth at California Terra Garden, a mushroom farm in Half Moon Bay where he lived and worked for the last seven years, most recently as a forklift driver. More information about the victims of Monday's mass shooting in Half Moon Bay emerged Wednesday, including details about 50-year-old Marciano Martinez Jimenez. Deputies then discovered three more bodies at another nursery, Concord Farms, about a mile away. Sheriff: Half Moon Bay shootings suspect 'believed' to work with victims. Not just simply we're not sure. He cares about everyone.". "You come here and you make plans and sometimes things dont happen the way you thought," he said. Sat, 2023-02-25 22:41 RIYADH: Eastern Province Municipality has offered investment opportunities on projects covering more than 3 million square meters in Half Moon Bay. By Associated Press California. Not long after the first shooting, Zhao drove to Concord Farms at 2125 Cabrillo Highway where he fatally shot three more victims, investigators said. ", An eighth person, identified in the court papers as Pedro Romero Perez, was also injured in the shootings, which authorities have described as a likely case of "workplace violence.". Zhao is cooperating with investigators. He only spoke to confirm his name through an interpreter. "He was a human being with a big heart. The shootings broke out at California Terra Garden, previously known as Mountain Mushroom Farm, and nearby Concord Farms. Please enter valid email address to continue. Contact Stephanie K. Baer at stephanie.baer@buzzfeed.com. "They're not recognizable in the community. Congresswoman Anna Eshoo released the following statement after the shootings in her congressional district in Half Moon Bay: "I continue to monitor the unfolding tragedy that has taken place in Half Moon Bay. @SaraStinsonNews recorded video of deputies hauling this man away in handcuffs. Half Moon Bay: DA confirms report that shooter was triggered by $100 equipment bill Family, co-workers of return to farm to commemorate victims Chunli Zhao appears for his arraignment at San. A source tells ABC7 News the suspect worked at one of the mushroom farms, and all the victims were coworkers. Northern California prosecutors filed seven murder charges Wednesday against the man accused of gunning down farm workers in the quaint oceanside town of Half Moon Bay. Zhao then shot a second worker, and gunned down the first worker who had gotten to his feet and tried to run away, Erlin Ortiz said. We have not had in San Mateo County before, a case with one instance of seven murders at once, Wagstaffe said at a news conference. The maximum penalty for these charges if convicted would be life in prison or the death penalty, according to Wagstaffe, who said he "plans to learn everything I can" about the suspect and the impact on the victims' families before deciding whether to pursue the death penalty. The Mexican Consulate in San Francisco on Wednesday confirmed two of the deceased victims are Mexican nationals, as well as the only surviving victim of the attack. The suspect, 66-year-old Chinese national Chunli Zhao, is being held without bond. Zhou, four of the victims, and the fifth person who was injured in the shooting at California Terra Garden all worked at the farm, according to a company spokesperson. 0. Zhao waived his right to a preliminary hearing a key evidentiary proceeding that determines whether the case will continue to trial within 60 days, allowing his defense attorneys time to continue sifting through police reports as well as time to receive autopsy reports that have yet to be completed. He did not actively surrender to us. She told Nunez she believed she was left unharmed because she never had any issues with the man. All rights reserved. Among those allegations are that Zhao used a gun, caused great bodily injury and killed multiple people. We share in their pain and know that our community members are also keeping the victims and their families in their hearts. An eighth shooting victim was hospitalized in stable condition as of Tuesday evening, authorities said. At a news conference Tuesday, San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus said that the only known connection between the alleged shooter and his victims is that "they may have been coworkers. Seven people were fatally shot at two nurseries in Half Moon Bay on Monday. A fifth person was transported to Stanford Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, who Corpus said Tuesday was in stable condition. More information and a sign-up pageare available online here. A "disgruntled" mushroom farm worker, 67, has been arrested for killing seven co-workers in a mass shooting in Half Moon Bay leaving California reeling from . Wagstaffe said they have a "feeling on a motive" but are not sharing that at this time. He later died by suicide. Feb 12, 2023 8:40pm; In Half Moon . He never had any problems with anyone. The charging documents identify Jose Romero Perez as the other person killed and Pedro Romero Perez as the eighth victim, who survived the shooting. Sheriff's officials have said it was workplace violence. Crime and Public Safety. Wagstaffe said the Half Moon Bay mass shooting was the largest in San Mateo County's history. He is believed to have acted alone and there is no further threat to the community, they added. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. This is a truly heartbreaking tragedy in our community," said Supervisor Ray Mueller. M BBC News A farm-worker has been formally charged with murder for a deadly shooting in California that left seven dead. Half Moon Bay suspect 'snapped' before shooting co-workers, sheriff says Chunli Zhao, 66, is being held in the killings of seven people, some of whom once worked alongside him in Half Moon Bay, a coastal community south of San Francisco. There is a vigil planned for Friday, January 27, at 5pm at the Mac Dutra Plaza. There was an error processing your request. Alejandro Lopez knew one of the victims - a man he called a brother, a friend he has known for 30 years. The shooting took place in the San Francisco Bay area earlier this week. Understandably, the family has asked for some time while they process all that has happened. San Mateo County police reports Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. BREAKING: Sheriff identified the Half Moon Bay mass shooting suspect as Zhao Chunli, 67, of HMB. Only known connection between the victims and the suspect is they may have been co-workers, Sheriff Corpus said. Kate Shea and Lizette Diaz are Half Moon Bay residents and both have been volunteering in the city to help those impacted by the massive flooding from January's torrential rain. "This is a devastating tragedy for this community and the many families touched by this unspeakable act of violence," said San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus. Tragedy upon tragedy," Newsom tweeted. Theres an awful lot more to learn.. She now wants answers. More than 60 people have been killed. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The man accused of gunning down seven migrant farmworkers last month during a shooting spree at two mushroom farms in the coastal hamlet of Half Moon Bay pleaded not guilty Thursday to a slew of murder charges. Carlos Martinez-Maya spoke with us at around 5 p.m. Monday, about his uncle who was working at the mushroom farm along Cabrillo Highway. Only great things about him," she said. Zhao worked at one of the shooting locations, Mountain Mushroom Farm, but it's unclear what connection he may have had with the victims beyond being co-workers, authorities said. There, investigators say he killed a former assistant manager whom he felt wronged by, as well as another couple. He was in court for just about five minutes, hiding his face behind a piece of paper for most of that time. The shooting in Half Moon Bay is part of a rash of gun violence that has rocked the state. Women's death in solo Tesla crash into North Bay pool under investigation, meeting with victims of the Monterey Park shooting, Lafayette BART station closed after fatality on tracks, One killed in Potrero Hill structure fire, San Mateo County District Attorney's Office, Attorney General Bonta announces post-conviction justice unit, Woman, 60, arrested in connection with fatal hit-and-run, Police seek suspect in Oakland sexual assault, Woman killed in San Jose hit-and-run; two vehicles sought, Suspect arrested after wounding police officer in San Jose shooting, Arrest made in gun incident at S.F. Authorities believe Zhao acted alone Monday when he entered a mushroom farm where he worked in Half Moon Bay, shot and killed four people and seriously wounded a fifth. "That's why from this point on the sheriff's office will not be making public statements about the case," he told reporters. 1. A farmworker accused of killing seven people in shootings at two Northern California mushroom farms has been charged with seven counts of murder, Suspect in Half Moon Bay Farm Killings Faces 7 Murder Counts, Chunli Zhao appears for his arraignment at San Mateo Superior Court in Redwood City, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. We didn't know their names in life and we should darn well know them in having lost them to serving us and serving our agricultural community," said Kati McHugh. HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (KRON) A gunman went on a rampage in the quiet coastal town of Half Moon Bay, killing seven farm workers in broad daylight Monday. Seven victims were shot to death. Five of the victims were Chinese citizens, the Chinese Consulate-General in San Francisco said Thursday. Everyone from the community is invited to attend. An attorney for Zhao did not immediately respond to BuzzFeed News's request for comment. Copyright 2023 TheAssociated Press. Though charging documents filed against Zhao on Thursday identified him as Jose Romero Perez. The county coroner's office on Wednesday morning identified six of the seven victims in Monday's horrific mass shooting at two Half Moon Bay farms. How safe is your neighborhood? His wails were so loud during that hearing that the judge called for a brief recess. HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (AP) A farmworker accused of killing seven people in back-to-back shootings at two Northern California mushroom farms will be charged with seven counts of murder and one of attempted murder, a prosecutor said Wednesday. "As some of these victims were members of our migrant community, this represents a unique challenge when it comes to notifications and identifications of next of kin," she said. Then at 7 p.m., he told us workers from the farm confirmed to the family that his uncle was one of the people shot and killed at this scene. The man accused of killing seven people in a mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, California, is expected to be arraigned on Wednesday, officials said. High 52F. Motive sought for Monterey Park mass shooting that left 11 dead during Lunar New Year celebrations, Baby, teen mom among 6 victims in massacre at Central Valley home, Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12, 50-year-old Moss Beach resident Marciano Martinez Jimenez, 73-year-old San Francisco resident Zhishen Liu, 74-year-old San Francisco resident Aixiang Zhang, 64-year-old Half Moon Bay resident Jingzhi Lu, 66-year-old Half Moon Bay resident Qizhong Cheng, 43-year-old Yetao Bing (residence unknown), Jose Romero Perez (age and residence unknown). While the motives remain a mystery, the. Roughly two hours later, police arrested Zhao Chunli a resident of Half Moon Bay. Jan 25, 2023, 01:12 PM EST. Choose wisely! Zhao appeared in court in Redwood City on Wednesday afternoon for an initial hearing, wearing a red jail jumpsuit, according to the Bay Area News Group. "We have a long way to go before we make that decision," Wagstaffe said, adding that they would hear from the victims' families and Zhao's attorneys on the matter as well. According to a fundraising page set up by his brother, Jimenez had lived in Half Moon Bay for 25 years and worked at Concord Farms, the second farm targeted in the mass shooting. Our deepest sympathies are with the families and individuals who have been devastated by this horrendous act. Officials have said some of the people killed were migrant workers. The sheriffs office did a magnificent job investigating this case, Wagstaffe said. Wilson Walkerand Katie Nielsen contributed to this report. All the evidence we have points to this being the instance of workplace violence. He says the community still hasn't recovered from the aftermath of the rain and flooding. They're invisible without transportation and without resources. The President will be updated as more details become available, Jean-Pierre added. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group via AP, Pool)Shae Hammond. Get the latest on the deadly Half Moon Bay shootings here. ", "All the evidence we have points to this being workplace violence," Corpus told reporters. A source tells ABC7 there are seven dead and one critically injured at Mountain Mushroom Farm and Concord Farms in HMB. Something is going on, but we don't know where it is. Zhao worked at Mountain Mushroom Farm, one of two agricultural businesses where workers were killed on Monday afternoon, authorities said.

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