Official: 7 killed in California community; suspect arrested

HALF MOON BAY, CALIF. — Seven individuals had been killed in two associated shootings Monday at a mushroom farm and a trucking agency in a coastal group south of San Francisco, and a suspect was in custody, officers mentioned.

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President Dave Pine says 4 individuals had been killed on the farm and three on the trucking enterprise on the outskirts of Half Moon Bay, a metropolis about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of San Francisco.

The police have arrested 67-year-old Chunli Zhao in reference to the capturing, Pine mentioned.

Pine mentioned the suspect labored for one of many companies. He known as the suspect a “disgruntled employee.”

The capturing was the nation’s sixth mass capturing this 12 months — and adopted the killing of 11 individuals late Saturday at a ballroom dance corridor in Southern California.

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Workplace first obtained experiences of a capturing simply earlier than 2:30 p.m. and located 4 individuals useless from gunshot wounds and a fifth injured individual on the first scene. Shortly thereafter, officers discovered three extra individuals useless from gunshot wounds at a second location about 5 miles (8 kilometers) away, Capt. Eamonn Allen mentioned in a information launch.

About two hours after first responding, a sheriff’s deputy discovered the suspect, Zhao, in his automobile at a sheriff’s station in Half Moon Bay. He was taken into custody and a weapon was present in his automobile. The sheriff’s division believes he acted alone, Allen mentioned.

The workplace didn’t share any details about the connection between the 2 places.

The motive for the capturing shouldn’t be recognized, Allen mentioned.

“We’re nonetheless making an attempt to grasp precisely what occurred and why, nevertheless it’s simply extremely, extremely tragic,” mentioned state Sen. Josh Becker, who represents the realm and known as it “a really close-knit” agricultural group.

Aerial tv pictures confirmed law enforcement officials gathering proof from a farm with dozens of greenhouses.

Half Moon Bay is a small coastal metropolis with agricultural roots now dwelling to about 12,000 individuals. The town and surrounding San Mateo County space is understood for producing flowers in addition to greens like brussell sprouts. The county permits hashish farming in sure areas.

It’s a majority white group and about 5% of the inhabitants is Asian, in line with Census information.

“We’re sickened by right now’s tragedy in Half Moon Bay,” Pine mentioned. “We now have not even had time to grieve for these misplaced within the horrible capturing in Monterey Park. Gun violence should cease.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted that he was “on the hospital assembly with victims of a mass capturing after I get pulled away to be briefed about one other capturing. This time in Half Moon Bay. Tragedy upon tragedy.”

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This story has been up to date to right the identify of capturing suspect to Chunli Zhao.