Before that, he covered education and general assignment stories at The Greeley Tribune in northern Colorado. In the days after two back-to-back mass shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, California, that killed a combined 18 Chinese, Asian American and Hispanic people and critically injured one other, several members of Michigan's Asian American community gathered in Madison Heights, Michigan to hold a local vigil for the victims and those in The San Francisco Chronicle and Bay Area News Group subsequently reported that Zhao was accused in civil court of threatening to suffocate and split the head of his former co-worker and roommate. Crime scene investigators combed through the trailers Tuesday morning looking for forensic evidence. Aaron Tung, the Concord Farms' principal, released the following statement: With the little information that is available to us at the moment, our comments are limited. Not long after the first shooting, Zhao drove to Concord Farms at 2125 Cabrillo Highway where he fatally shot three more victims, investigators said. Shocked and horrified, Miriam Ortizs husband, who was behind the wheel, started the car and prepared to drive away. For more information on how to help the Half Moon Bay farming community, visit ALAS (Ayudando a Latinos a Soar) at their websitealasdreams.com. Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. 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. The volunteers says many of these families could be here for the next few days. Choose wisely! 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. Copyright 2023 TheAssociated Press. The charges allow for life without parole or death if convicted, but Wagstaffe said a decision on the death penalty has not been made. "I walked into my boss' office at 4 p.m. and I said, 'There are four people dead in my town, I have to go,'" says Shea. One of our deputies located the vehicle there and recognized it. 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. 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. 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. The suspect, 66-year-old Chinese national Chunli Zhao, is being held without bond. Not just simply we're not sure. Several people reported that relocating allowed them to have a good night's sleep again, added Guerrero. ", "All the evidence we have points to this being workplace violence," Corpus told reporters. Flowers and a card are pictured at a makeshift memorial to honor the victims of the Half Moon Bay shootings on Jan. 24. Error! "There was a note inside the car," Wagstaffe said. Crime and Public Safety | 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. 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. The deputy, as well as two more deputies, pointed their guns at the SUV, ordered him to come out with his hands up, and tackled him to the ground. Our hearts are with the victims, their families and the Chinese American community, from Half Moon Bay to Monterey Park. The majority of farmworkers in the area are Latinos but the Mountain Mushroom Farm was one of the few that employed Asian workers, said Belinda Hernandez, executive director of ALAS, a farmworker advocacy group based in Half Moon Bay. As for the shooting investigation, there were several new pieces of information passed along. 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. While the motives remain a mystery, the. All victims are thought to be workers at the nurseries and were of Asian and Hispanic descent, authorities said. Martinez-Maya is identifying his uncle as a man named Marciano Martinez-Jimenez, who at work was known as "Martin." He is due back in court for a plea hearing on Feb. 16. Prosecutors also. On Feb. 16, he pled not guilty to . 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. 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. Zhao worked at Mountain Mushroom Farm, one of two agricultural businesses where workers were killed on Monday afternoon, authorities said. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) The individual intentionally entered the trackway for unknown reasons. An eighth shooting victim survived and is currently in stable condition at a hospital. "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. "At the hospital meeting with victims of a mass shooting when I get pulled away to be briefed about another shooting. "We're not revealing that at this point. ", 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.". Feb 27, 2023. 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. 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). Scott Adams faces 'consequence culture' as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says. 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. Flowers and a card are pictured at a makeshift memorial to honor the victims of the Half Moon Bay shootings on Jan. 24. The U.S. has seen 39 mass shootings so far this month. On Feb. 8, Wendy Rubio and Winsor Kinkade launched a grief group at the Half Moon Bay-based nonprofit Ayudando Latinos a Soar for people who either witnessed the Jan. 23 shootings or were directly impacted by them in some other way. Theres an awful lot more to learn.. Authorities say Zhao then drove to Concord Farms, where he worked until 2015, and began shooting there. 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. There were no specific indicators that he was capable of something like this, Allen said. 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. The charges against Zhao include additional allegations that could result in the death penalty or life in prison without parole, though Gov. The office was withholding the name of the seventh victim pending next of kin notification; however, charging documents identified him as Jose Romero Perez. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. Officials discussing the investigation mentioned a possible gang link to the killings. "He was a human being with a big heart. 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. 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. Zhao is accused of fatally shooting seven people and wounding an eighth in what authorities have dubbed "an instance of workplace violence." On Monday, he unleashed a barrage of bullets at a. The criminal complaint charges Zhao in the order that investigators believe the killings and attempted killing occurred, Wagstaffe said. over dismissal of officers, Two shot, one killed in East Oakland Wednesday, College, police co-sponsor catalytic converter etching, Father and son sentenced to 12 years for homicide, Antioch PD search for woman linked to armed robbery, Montgomery High student fatally stabbed in art class, Bay Bridge lights set to go dark in just days, Overturned big rig shuts down traffic on in San Mateo, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. And it kinda sucks that we can't even be safe at our jobs anymore," said Half Moon Bay resident Susy Gutierrez, who stopped by with flowers. The alleged gunman, 66-year-old Chunli Zhao, made his first court appearance on Wednesday. A local florist brought by 70 bouquets of roses to leave at the memorial. Outpouring of grief for farmworkers slain in Half Moon Bay mass shooting. His family is now trying to raise money to get Marciano's body back home to be buried with his parents. They're invisible without transportation and without resources. Prosecutors filed the charges Wednesday. 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. All rights reserved. The suspect, 66-year-old Chinese national Chunli Zhao, is being held without bond. "It was done through an interpreter, a Mandarin interpreter, and my office was watching it from outside.". It was a very hectic scene. An attorney for Zhao did not immediately respond to BuzzFeed News's request for comment. 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. Now more than ever it's important for the community to come together and be there for one another.". 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. The suspect is being held on no bail following an arraignment on Wednesday. The platform is designed to engage citizens and government leaders in a discussion about what needs improvement across the country. 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. ", Volunteers help families displaced by HMB shootings. Two hours into the manhunt, Zhao drove himself the San Mateo County Sheriffs substation parking lot at 537 Kelly Avenue in Half Moon Bay. Hershon worked for the Half Moon Bay Review for. Locals tell us Mountain Mushroom Farm is known to be a marijuana growing farm. HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (KRON) On Jan. 23 at 2:30 p.m., the quiet seaside community of Half Moon Bay changed forever. 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. Half Moon Bay mass shooting suspect Chunli Zhao makes his first court appearance on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. 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. Officials discussing the investigation mentioned a possible gang link to the killings. 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. This undated photo provided by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department shows Chunli Zhao. 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 . "We saw all the sirens going one way and then all the sirens going the other way. Contact Stephanie K. Baer at stephanie.baer@buzzfeed.com. He graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a BA degree in journalism. A farmworker accused of killing seven people in shootings at two Northern California mushroom farms has been charged with seven counts of murder. Crime and Public Safety. He is set to be arraigned on Feb. 16. Gavin Newsom has issued a moratorium on executions. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Three have struck California since Jan. 16, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. She said that mushroom farms offer the benefit of year-round work. The database tracks every mass killing defined as four dead, not including the offender in the U.S. since 2006. 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. Opinion: Mass shooting reveals resistance to farmworker housing Only great things about him," she said. Zhao has been charged with seven counts of murder and one count of. They say the Sheriff's Office is the lead investigative agency at this time. The shootings were reported at Mountain Mushroom Farm on San Mateo Road near Highway 1 and Concord Farms off Cabrillo Hwy S. First responders first received a call about an active shooter at around 2:20 p.m. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Prosecutors suspect Zhao continued his shooting spree at Concord Farms, another mushroom farm across town. The suspect left a note inside his car, but they are not revealing the content of the note at that point, he said. 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. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. The best states in the U.S. come from coast to coast. Mostly sunny. It just hits home a little bit, because my dad and a lot of my uncles have been farm workers. And. "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. 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. 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. 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