Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Tracking the drought: Map shows conditions across SF Bay Area, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7, Watch moment police arrest suspect in deadly Half Moon Bay shootings, Woman who witnessed HMB shooting suspect's arrest shares details, There have been more mass shootings in US than days in 2023, database shows, latest on the deadly Half Moon Bay shootings here. The new year has brought six mass killings in the U.S. in fewer than three weeks, accounting for 39 deaths. Its sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean make it a popular spot for hikers and tourists, who flock there to surf and for an annual giant pumpkin festival. (Courtesy of Kati McHugh) Chunli Zhao, 66, was . "There was a note inside the car," Wagstaffe said. 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. 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 . 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. Crime and Public Safety | All the evidence we have points to this being the instance of workplace violence. 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. HALF MOON BAY The shooting massacres at two coastal mushroom farms earlier this week were apparently fueled by the suspected gunman's mounting frustrations with his job conditions and. Receive occasional local offers from our website and its advertisers. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "They're not recognizable in the community. 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. SOUTHPORT, Fla. (WMBB) A locally owned bay county company has become the latest victim in an organized crime spree. Chunli Zhao, a 66-year-old Chinese national, is accused of the shooting and has been charged with seven counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, along with several enhancements for discharging a firearm causing death or great bodily injury, causing great bodily injury, and a special circumstance allegation of multiple murder. Servando Martinez Jimenez said his brother Marciano Martinez Jimenez, one of the victims, was a delivery person and manager at one of the farms. He was polite and friendly with everyone. Chunli Zhao, 66, showed little emotion while denying the charges against him in the Jan. 23 attack that ranks as the deadliest mass shooting in San Mateo Countys history. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live, Black ice causes problematic commute for North Bay drivers, Clear skies pave way for snow fun day on Mt. The shooting took place in the San Francisco Bay area earlier this week. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Seven people were fatally shot at two nurseries in Half Moon Bay on Monday. 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. The change in leadership took place on Monday. "We remain shocked and grief-stricken over the senseless loss of four of our friends and long-time employees, and we pray for the team member that remains in critical condition," said California Terra Garden in a statement. Letters: County oversight | Compensate farmworkers | Affordable housing | Gun rights | Silencing greatness | Fossil fuel alternatives Zhao, 66, made his first court appearance. Our hearts are with the victims, their families and the Chinese American community, from Half Moon Bay to Monterey Park. 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. San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus said at a news . 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. He then drove to a nearby farm where he worked previously and killed three more people, said Eamonn Allen, a sheriffs spokesperson. And. Copyright 2023 TheAssociated Press. She told Nunez she believed she was left unharmed because she never had any issues with the man. Though charging documents filed against Zhao on Thursday identified him as Jose Romero Perez. Zhao made his initial court appearance on Wednesday afternoon in Redwood City. 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. "You come here and you make plans and sometimes things dont happen the way you thought," he said. Five men and two women were gunned down. Chunli Zhao, 67, of Half Moon Bay, has been arrested in connection to the incidents. It comes after the municipality took part in the Municipal Investment Forum, where lar Authorities give update on Half Moon Bay shooting that killed 7, injured 1. BREAKING: Sheriff identified the Half Moon Bay mass shooting suspect as Zhao Chunli, 67, of HMB. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph.. . Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Deschler at 1-800-547-2700. 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. Half Moon Bay suspect in court after 7 people killed in mass shooting. He was laughing, he was smiling, Erlin Ortiz said. San Mateo County deputies were called to California Terra Garden, a mushr 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. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. "It will all go through my office, and we're going to do it very limitedly for the reason that we want to make sure that this man gets a fair trial. Zhao also allegedly shot three people at a trucking business on the 2100 block of Cabrillo Highway South. Those families have been temporarily relocated to area motels joining other farmworker familiesdisplaced by recent floods in the area. Zhao is from China and has lived in the United States for at least a dozen years, Wagstaffe said. We share in their pain and know that our community members are also keeping the victims and their families in their hearts. 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. The suspect, 66-year-old Chinese national Chunli Zhao, is being held without bond. "There is a lot of sadness, there is grief," says Diaz. Gavin Newsom also responded to the incidents, just one day after the deadly mass shooting at Monterey Park in Southern California. 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. 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 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. The judge ordered that Zhao be held on no bail. 0. The San Mateo County Coroners Office confirmed the identities of six of the seven victims that were killed in the mass shooting. For certain, we thank the outpouring of thoughts and support from the community. Moments before opening fire, Zhao vented his frustrations at the supervisor and a co-worker whom Zhao blamed for a collision between his forklift and a bulldozer, prosecutors allege. 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.". It would not have been Zhaos first fit of workplace rage, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. All Rights Reserved. Then came the Monday's mass shooting in their city. Chunli Zhao, 66, made his first court appearance Wednesday but did not enter a plea. The individual intentionally entered the trackway for unknown reasons. We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen. The office was withholding the name of the seventh victim pending next of kin notification; however, charging documents identified him as Jose Romero Perez. For more information on how to help the Half Moon Bay farming community, visit ALAS (Ayudando a Latinos a Soar) at their websitealasdreams.com. 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. Mostly sunny. It is my thoughts that we have already lost our government and been folded into the new world order and they are now really getting serious about killing us off and enslaving us. All rights reserved. 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 | 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. He was a good person. And Aaron Tung, part owner of Concord Farms, did not respond Wednesday to a request for additional comment. Diablo, Stephen Curry surprises Bay Area kids with Warriors shopping spree. 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. 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. The population was 459,470 at the 2020 census. Chunli Zhao is accused of killing four people at a mushroom farm and three others at a site about two miles away. The Half Moon Bay Shooting Victims Have Been Identified And The Suspected Shooter Has Been Charged With Murder. Our deepest sympathies are with the families and individuals who have been devastated by this horrendous act. The outlets, citing court documents, reported that Zhao attempted to strangle the roommate with a pillow. 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. John Williams and his wife dropped off blankets. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. Family ID's worker killed in Half Moon Bay shootings. All victims are thought to be workers at the nurseries and were of Asian and Hispanic descent, authorities said. "That's why from this point on the sheriff's office will not be making public statements about the case," he told reporters. FBI officials walk towards the crime scene at California Terra Garden, formerly the Mountain Mushroom Farm, on Jan. 24. 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. Zhao did not have a lengthy criminal history in San Mateo County. A man on a motorcycle was waving his arms and legs around while driving on Adams Street in . The suspect in a deadly mass shooting at two Northern California farms was charged with seven counts of murder, the local district attorney said. There were several journalists arriving in the parking lot at the time because it was designated by sheriff as a media staging area. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Zhao is believed to have acted alone, San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus said. They're invisible without transportation and without resources. Prosecutors filed the charges Wednesday. Authorities responded to the 12700 block of San Mateo Road at the Mountain Mushroom Farm, close to Rice Trucking-Soil Farm off of Hwy. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. How safe is your neighborhood? "All of the evidence we have points to this being the instance of workplace violence.". Half Moon Bay, California Authorities on Wednesday identified those killed in the Half Moon Bay shooting as: Yetao Bing, 43, Qizhong Cheng, 66, Marciano Martinez Jimenez, 50, Aixiang. Flowers and a card are pictured at a makeshift memorial to honor the victims of the Half Moon Bay shootings on Jan. 24. 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. At the Feb. 10 proceeding, Zhao sobbed openly in court while a judge imposed a gag order barring attorneys from speaking to the press. 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