HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (AP) — Seven folks had been killed in two associated shootings Monday at agricultural services in a California coastal group south of San Francisco, marking the state’s third mass killing in eight days, together with Saturday’s assault at a dance corridor that killed 11 throughout Lunar New 12 months celebrations.
Officers arrested a suspect in Monday’s shootings, 67-year-old Chunli Zhao, after they discovered him in his automobile within the car parking zone of a sheriff’s substation, San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus mentioned.
4 folks had been discovered lifeless and a fifth injured from gunshot wounds at a farm, and officers discovered three different folks killed at one other location a number of miles away, the Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned. The killings occurred on the outskirts of Half Moon Bay, a metropolis about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of San Francisco. Corpus mentioned the 2 places had been nurseries, and it wasn’t instantly clear how they had been linked.
The brand new 12 months has introduced a stunning string of mass killings within the U.S. — six in lower than three weeks, accounting for 39 deaths. Three have occurred in California since Jan. 16, in keeping with a database compiled by The Related Press, USA In the present day and Northeastern College. The database tracks each mass killing — outlined as 4 lifeless not together with the offender — dedicated within the U.S. since 2006.
Officers consider Zhao is a employee at one of many services and that the victims had been staff as nicely, Corpus mentioned. Some staff at one facility lived on the premises and kids might have witnessed the taking pictures, she mentioned.
Corpus mentioned officers hadn’t decided a motive for the taking pictures.
Half Moon Bay Vice Mayor Joaquin Jimenez mentioned the victims included Chinese language and Latino farmworkers.
The Sheriff’s Workplace first obtained studies of a taking pictures simply earlier than 2:30 p.m. and located 4 folks lifeless from gunshot wounds and a fifth particular person injured on the first scene. Shortly thereafter, officers discovered three extra folks lifeless from gunshot wounds at a second location close by, Capt. Eamonn Allen mentioned in a information launch.
About two hours after first responding, a sheriff’s deputy seen the suspect, Zhao, in his automobile parked exterior a sheriff’s substation in a strip mall and arrested him, recognizing the automobile by its license plate.
A video of the arrest confirmed three officers approaching a parked automobile with drawn weapons. Zhao received out of the automobile, and the officers pulled him to the bottom, put him in handcuffs, and led him away. A weapon was present in his automobile, officers mentioned. The video was captured by Kati McHugh, a Half Moon Bay resident who witnessed the arrest.
The sheriff’s division believes Zhao acted alone.
“We’re nonetheless attempting to know precisely what occurred and why, however it’s simply extremely, extremely tragic,” mentioned state Sen. Josh Becker, who represents the realm and referred to as it “a really close-knit” agricultural group.
Aerial tv photographs confirmed cops amassing proof from a farm with dozens of greenhouses.
Half Moon Bay is a small coastal metropolis with agricultural roots, dwelling to about 12,000 folks. The town and surrounding San Mateo County space is thought for producing flowers in addition to greens like brussels sprouts. The county permits hashish farming in sure areas.
It’s a majority white group and about 5% of the inhabitants is Asian, in keeping with Census knowledge.
“We're sickened by at present’s tragedy in Half Moon Bay,” Pine mentioned. “We've got not even had time to grieve for these misplaced within the horrible taking pictures in Monterey Park. Gun violence should cease.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted that he was “on the hospital assembly with victims of a mass taking pictures after I get pulled away to be briefed about one other taking pictures. This time in Half Moon Bay. Tragedy upon tragedy.”
On Jan. 16, a teenage mom and her child had been amongst six folks killed in a taking pictures at a house in California’s Central Valley.
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This story has been up to date to appropriate the title of taking pictures suspect to Chunli Zhao. It has additionally been up to date to take away a reference to a trucking agency primarily based on up to date info from authorities.
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