In 2021, only . HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (AP) A farmworker killed seven people in back-to-back shootings in a case of "workplace violence" at two Northern California mushroom farms, officials said Tuesday as the state mourned its third mass killing in just over a week. 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. He only spoke to confirm his name through an interpreter. Juarez Perez described Jose, who was in his late 30s, as a nice, quiet, but sociable person and a family man who provided for his wife and four children while working and living at the mushroom farm. Crime and Public Safety. More than 60 people have been killed. Some were already staying in hotels because their homes were damaged in the storm. He declined to comment further Wednesday, saying he would defer to law enforcement. He later died by suicide. Chunli Zhao, 66, was set to make his first court appearance Wednesday but it was postponed until Feb. 16, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. "He was cooperative with the sheriff's detectives who did the interview," Wagstaffe 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. Then shortly after at the Concord Farms on the 2100 block of Cabrillo Highway South - less than 3 miles away from the Mountain Mushroom Farm - three additional victims were located, also deceased with gunshot wounds. A farmworker accused of killing seven people in shootings at two Northern California mushroom farms has been charged with seven counts of murder. Weekday - Things to know this week . The PCJU's creation is part of a growing effort among U.S. prosecutorial offices in establishing and operating specialized units, Investigators tracked the suspect vehicle to a home near the scene of the crash and identified the woman as the driver, The assault occurredin the 200 block of Grand Avenue, near the northern edge of Lake Merritt, according to Oakland police, The woman was struck near Cataldi Park and was taken to a hospital with major injuries, A member of the SJPD's MERGE unit was shot as authorities approached the suspect's residence in the 800 block of Sinbad Avenue, the department reported, The man is suspected of walking into the Schneerson Center on Balboa Street, which holds religious services and classes along with community activities, shortly before. HALF MOON BAY, Calif. ( KRON) A suspect is in custody in connection to separate shootings that left seven people dead and one in critical condition in Half Moon Bay on Monday. Chunli Zhao, 66, made his first court appearance Wednesday but did not enter a plea. He ultimately died by suicide at the scene. None of the victims names have been released by the coroner. The charges start with Qi Zhong Cheng, and end with Ai Xiang Zhang. The new year has brought six mass killings in the U.S. in fewer than three weeks, accounting for 39 deaths. 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. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images Comunicado de Prensa de @ConsulmexSFO pic.twitter.com/OToDn2QBcl. MORE: There have been more mass shootings in US than days in 2023, database shows. 1. My gratitude to the San Mateo Sheriff's Office who took the suspect into custody and are working the two scenes of the murders. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. He was shackled and in a red jail jumpsuit, and walked into court holding a yellow piece of paper that he at times used to conceal his face from cameras. 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. Cases like this, weve never had one in this county, of this many deaths. With no past knowledge with this gunman or his motives, we are shook and very eager to gain more information from the authorities and their investigations. Zhao remains held without bail on seven counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, along with numerous sentencing enhancements. 8th victim airlifted to hospital.UPDATES: https://t.co/Y5sMJNcYdh pic.twitter.com/A3DkUktwRc. Chunli Zhao being arrested Monday in the parking lot of the San Mateo County Sheriffs Office as a suspect in the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay earlier in the day. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. There were no specific indicators that he was capable of something like this, Allen said. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? 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.". According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the two were roommates and worked at a restaurant, and the man filed a temporary restraining order against Zhao that was granted but is no longer in effect. John Williams and his wife dropped off blankets. The 66-year-old suspect was an employee of. Really? The suspect is being held on no bail following an arraignment on Wednesday. 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. Zhao, a farmworker accused of killing seven people in back-to-back shootings at two Northern California mushroom farms was charged Wednesday with seven counts of murder and one of attempted murder. A source tells ABC7 there are seven dead and one critically injured at Mountain Mushroom Farm and Concord Farms in HMB. The Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco on Tuesday confirmed that two of the people killed were Mexican nationals, as is the man hospitalized at Stanford. Background. Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-edition email. Officials discussing the investigation mentioned a possible gang link to the killings. 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. We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen. Before that, he covered education and general assignment stories at The Greeley Tribune in northern Colorado. Crime scene investigators combed through the trailers Tuesday morning looking for forensic evidence. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Board of Supervisors will seek a state grant to try to provide more housing options for county farmworkers including those affected by January's mass shootings at two Half Moon Bay farms. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Zhao did not have a lengthy criminal history in San Mateo County. San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus said the victims were "a mixture of Hispanic and Asian" adults, all of whom "may have been co-workers" with Zhao. By Associated Press California. ", 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.". Mostly sunny. "There were farmworkers affected tonight. After the confrontation, he allegedly shot the supervisor and the coworker, along with the co-workers wife and two others at the farm. Zhao, a farmworker accused of killing seven people in back-to-back shootings at two Northern California mushroom farms was charged Wednesday with seven counts of murder and one of attempted murder. In addition to seven counts of murder, Zhao was charged with one count of attempted murder, firearm use enhancements and a count of special circumstance allegation of multiple murder, Wagstaffe said. The change in leadership took place on Monday. Ben Pimentels new weekly newsletter covering the biggest technology stories in San Francisco, Silicon Valley and beyond. ABC News' Alex Stone contributed to this report. 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. The shooting in Half Moon Bay is part of a rash of gun violence that has rocked the state. A lot of ranch workers and their families have been displaced since the farms where they work are now crime scenes. Prior to arriving here in 2021, he worked at The Gazette in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he spent nearly a decade covering crime, the military and the public safety net, including health care and social services. ", "All the evidence we have points to this being workplace violence," Corpus told reporters. 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 . Half Moon Bay mass shooting suspect appears in court. The charges against Zhao include additional allegations that could result in the death penalty or life in prison without parole, though Gov. Abc Affiliate Kgo/ABC News Affiliate KGO via Reuters, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Sadly, officials say the shootings impacted children too. Gavin Newsom also responded to the incidents, just one day after the deadly mass shooting at Monterey Park in Southern California. HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (KRON) On Jan. 23 at 2:30 p.m., the quiet seaside community of Half Moon Bay changed forever. Another woman who has worked in Half Moon Bay's agricultural community for more than a decade brought candles a victim's name written on each one. Related Articles Understandably, the family has asked for some time while they process all that has happened. Wagstaffe went on to say his office believes that they know a motive in the shooting, but he wouldn't divulge that, saying the focus now is on the prosecution and keeping the details out of the public eye to ensure a fair trial. Authorities believe the man who killed seven people and injured another in Monday's Half Moon Bay shootings was a coworker of each of the victims. Tragedy upon tragedy," Newsom tweeted. Tags: Associated Press, courts, crime, California. We believe the answer is no..". Chunli Zhao, 66, was the lone suspect in Monday's shooting, which authorities described as " workplace violence ", in the town of Half Moon Bay near San Francisco. "What next, you know? Crime and Public Safety | The subject exited the vehicle and was taken into custody.. Those families have been temporarily relocated to area motels joining other farmworker familiesdisplaced by recent floods in the area. HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (AP) A farmworker accused of killing seven people in back-to-back shootings at two Northern California mushroom farms was charged Wednesday with seven counts of murder and one of attempted murder. Zhao, 66, has been charged with seven counts of murder and one of attempted murder. "There was a note inside the car," Wagstaffe said. Feb 27, 2023. Through an interpreter, Nunez said Juana was approached by a man she recognized as a former fellow employee as the workers were wrapping up their day. Zhao's next appearance has been scheduled for Feb. 16, when he is expected to enter a formal plea. 66-year-old Qizhong Cheng - and 64-year old Jingzhi Lu of Half Moon Bay Prosecutors charged Zhao with seven counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. He is set to be arraigned on Feb. 16. People have stopped to pray, or just take a few quiet moments to reflect on the events of the past few days. Look ma, no hands! Williams says he does, however, feel more safe knowing that suspect was arrested. The Coastside News Group Inc., which owns the Half Moon Bay Review, has announced the retirement of Publisher Debra Hershon and the appointment of longtime Editor Clay Lambert as the news organization's next editor and publisher. He was arrested after sheriff's officials found him in the parking lot of a department substation. It was a very hectic scene. While the motives remain a mystery, the. San Mateo County police reports Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. It followed the killing of 11 people in the Los Angeles area amid Lunar New Year celebrations Saturday. The first shooting happened at Mountain Mushroom Farm, located at 12761 San Mateo Road, where the alleged gunman worked. Seven months earlier, a manager at California Terra Garden who was not Zhao allegedly opened fire with a handgun at a coworker's trailer following a dispute and was later charged with attempted murder and criminal threats, as well as shooting into an occupied . Zhao gunned down five people, killing four, investigators said. All the evidence we have points to this being the instance of workplace violence. 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. Not just simply we're not sure. Officials released the names of the two women and five men killed in shootings at two farms in Half Moon Bay, California, as the man accused of gunning them down was charged with their murders on Wednesday. HALF MOON BAY -- A farmworker accused of killing seven people in a mass shooting at two Half Moon Bay mushroom farms was charged Wednesday with seven counts of murder and one of. As for the shooting investigation, there were several new pieces of information passed along. He had legal paperwork to live in the country at one time and investigators were determining whether it was still valid, Wagstaffe said. He's originally from Oaxaca, Mexico. You have permission to edit this article. The sheriff's office says a weapon was located in Zhao's vehicle. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. "We strongly condemn this incident of gun violence," a spokesperson for the Consulate-General said in a statement, "and would like to express our deep condolences to the victims and sincere condolences to the injured and the families of the victims. Wang could not be immediately reached, the Chronicle reported. "What can I tell you? Only great things about him," she said. HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (AP) A farmworker accused of killing seven people in back-to-back shootings at two Northern California mushroom farms was charged Wednesday with seven counts of. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Chunli Zhao is accused of killing four people at a mushroom farm and three others at a . The Secret Service analyzed 173 mass casualty attacks. 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