San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe handled the hearing personally and spoke to reporters outside the courthouse after the hearing. Zhao is believed to have acted alone, San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus said. Half Moon Bay mass shooting suspect appears in court. Oates said there were three mobile homes and six trailers for employees on the premises. Both homicide scenes were farms in Half Moon Bay The first shooting happened at Mountain Mushroom Farm, located at 12761 San Mateo Road, where the alleged gunman worked. Zhao, 66, has been charged with seven counts of murder and one of attempted murder. 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. Associated Press writers Janie Har in San Francisco and Sophie Austin in Sacramento, along with researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York, contributed. We thank law enforcement for their swift response and actions. ABC7 News reporters J.R. Stone and Anser Hassan and Amanda del Castillo contributed to this report. It would not have been Zhaos first fit of workplace rage, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. 1. We saw him get on the forklift, and when he turned to see us, he was making fun of the situation.. The population was 459,470 at the 2020 census. They're invisible without transportation and without resources. 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Half Moon Bay mass shooting devastating to local farmworker community The U.S. has seen 39 mass shootings so far this month. More than 60 people have been killed. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group via AP, Pool) Suspect in Half Moon Bay farm killings faces 7 murder counts. So it was the afternoon, kids were out of school and for children to witness, this is unspeakable," said Sheriff Christina Corpus. He left the gun inside his SUV when he parked it at the sheriffs substation. Both Diaz and Shea have been assisting families at a community shelter set up at Portuguese Hall in Half Moon Bay. Chunli Zhao appears for his arraignment at San Mateo Superior Court in Redwood City, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. FBI officials walk towards the crime scene at California Terra Garden, formerly the Mountain Mushroom Farm, on Jan. 24. He started giving the subject commands. Crime and Public Safety. Deputies who tackled Zhao immediately searched him for weapons and he appeared to be unarmed. As for the shooting investigation, there were several new pieces of information passed along. 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. UPDATED 7:40 PM PT Jan. 25, 2023 PUBLISHED 9:14 AM PT Jan. 25, 2023 PUBLISHED 9:14 AM PST Jan. 25, 2023. It is just deplorable," says Williams. 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 sheriffs office did a magnificent job investigating this case, Wagstaffe said. 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. Understandably, the family has asked for some time while they process all that has happened. Copyright 2023 TheAssociated Press. "It affects me because I have four boys, and I cannot imagine what those kids witness today. 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. 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. Sheriff: Half Moon Bay shootings suspect 'believed' to work with victims. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. No additional details were provided on the prior felony. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. Prosecutors also. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. Authorities say Zhao then drove to Concord Farms, where he worked until 2015, and began shooting there. Among those allegations are that Zhao used a gun, caused great bodily injury, killed multiple people, and had a prior felony conviction. 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. They were also looking into his prior contact with law enforcement. Five of the victims were Chinese citizens, the Chinese Consulate-General in San Francisco said Thursday. Concord Farms is a family owned and operated mushroom farm at this location for 37 years. The Half Moon Bay Shooting Victims Have Been Identified And The Suspected Shooter Has Been Charged With Murder. During his arraignment hearing, Zhao, who appeared in a red jumpsuit and used a piece of paper to block his face, was appointed two private defenders and an entry of plea was scheduled for Feb. 16. Chopper over a scene of a shooting in Half Moon Bay, January 23, 2023. a mass shooting at two Half Moon Bay mushroom farms, the killing of a teenage mother, her baby and six others, multiple people were shot and one person was killed in Oakland, Update: 'Workplace violence' blamed in Half Moon Bay mass killing spree, 'Shame on them;' Newsom excoriates gun control opponents following California mass shootings, Oakland shooting kills 18-year-old, injures 4; Others hurt in crash while fleeing. Sheriff's officials have said it was workplace violence. SOUTHPORT, Fla. (WMBB) A locally owned bay county company has become the latest victim in an organized crime spree. The charges will be filed before Chunli Zhao, 66, makes his first court . Gavin Newsom tweeted on Monday that he was meeting with victims of the Monterey Park shooting, which occurred in an Asian-American enclave, when he was "pulled away to be briefed" about Half Moon Bay. For more on the shooting in Half Moon Bay, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day. "What next, you know? 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. A local florist brought by 70 bouquets of roses to leave at the memorial. The sheriff's office says a weapon was located in Zhao's vehicle. Sheriff Corpus said investigators need more time before they release a definitive motive. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. She is also happy the suspect was arrested. Success! The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said in a Tuesday morning press conference that Chunli Zhao, 66, legally purchased . Chilling new details emerged surrounding the killing of the seven farmworkers fatally shot by a fellow employee. All Rights Reserved. Gecker reported from San Francisco. VIDEO: Woman who witnessed HMB shooting suspect's arrest shares details. The subject exited the vehicle and was taken into custody.. SHARE. "We saw all the sirens going one way and then all the sirens going the other way. The judge ordered that Zhao be held on no bail. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. 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. 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. @SaraStinsonNews recorded video of deputies hauling this man away in handcuffs. 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. The platform is designed to engage citizens and government leaders in a discussion about what needs improvement across the country. More information and a sign-up pageare available online here. "not concerned about anything else, just hoping to see him come out, because I really don't want to" said Carlos Martinez-Maya. Chunli Zhao is accused of killing four people at a mushroom farm and three others at a site about two miles away. Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do. 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. A subsequent Bay Area News Group investigation found that laws meant to ensure livable farmworker housing often went unenforced in San Mateo County, allowing farm owners to neglect their struggling workforce, including the shooter and his victims. During a news conference after Wednesday's hearing, Wagstaffe declined to answer a question about whether Zhao specifically targeted the victims, telling reporters that while he knows the answer, he didn't want to go into those details at this time. Those families have been temporarily relocated to area motels joining other farmworker familiesdisplaced by recent floods in the area. We share in their pain and know that our community members are also keeping the victims and their families in their hearts. The alleged gunman, 66-year-old Chunli Zhao, made his first court appearance on Wednesday. The shooting in Half Moon Bay is part of a rash of gun violence that has rocked the state. 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. Authorities give update on Half Moon Bay shooting that killed 7, injured 1. The coroner's office said the seventh victim has been tentatively identified and the name is being withheld pending positive identification and next-of-kin notification. Wagstaffe said they have a "feeling on a motive" but are not sharing that at this time. Choose wisely! San Mateo County police reports Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. Zhao bought and owned the murder weapon, a semi-automatic handgun, Sheriff Corpus said. Zhao's next appearance has been scheduled for Feb. 16, when he is expected to enter a formal plea. Crime and Public Safety | Sadly, officials say the shootings impacted children too. "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. Crime and Public Safety. 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. An underwater researcher has submerged to begin a 100-day mission in the Florida Keys, attempting to set a record for underwater human habitation at ambient pressure, as well as educating students and conducting medical and marine science research, Authorities say a central Florida man has been arrested after fatally shooting his teenage daughter and three other people, California households that employ cleaners or nannies could soon be required to comply with safety standards similar to other workplaces under a bill proposed in the state Legislature. An eighth shooting victim was hospitalized in stable condition as of Tuesday evening, authorities said. It just hits home a little bit, because my dad and a lot of my uncles have been farm workers. San Mateo County deputies were called to California Terra Garden, a mushr The U.S. has seen 39 mass shootings so far this month. Tragedy upon tragedy," Newsom tweeted. They say the Sheriff's Office is the lead investigative agency at this time. 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. Zhao is cooperating with investigators. 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. EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Watch moment police arrest suspect in deadly Half Moon Bay shootings. 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. San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus said at a news . Wagstaffe said they have a "feeling on a motive" but are not sharing that at this time. "We're not revealing that at this point. The suspect, 66-year-old Chinese national Chunli Zhao, is being held without bond. Crime and Public Safety | Five men and two women were gunned down. There was also a note found. It was a very hectic scene. Prosecutors filed the charges Wednesday. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Servando Martinez Jimenez said his brother Marciano Martinez Jimenez, one of the victims, was a delivery person and manager at one of the farms. Half Moon Bay mass shooting suspect Chunli Zhao makes his first court appearance on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. The San Mateo County coroner's office identified the victims as Qizhong Cheng, 66, of Half Moon Bay; Yetao Bing, 43, whose residence was unknown; Jingzhi Lu, 64, of Half Moon Bay; Marciano Martinez Jimenez, 50, of Moss Beach; Zhishen Liu, 73, of San Francisco; and Aixiang Zhang, 74, of San Francisco. A farm worker who shot and killed seven people at two different locations in California was angry he was forced to foot the repair bill after a collision involving his forklift and a co-worker's. The charges start with Qi Zhong Cheng, and end with Ai Xiang Zhang. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? "This is a horrific event, one that we would never imagine would occur in San Mateo County," said David Pine who is Board of Supervisors President. High 52F. Wagstaffe said the charges will "obviously" involve the seven homicides. 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