Thu. Oct 3rd, 2024

Northern California shooting leaves at least 7 dead, officials say: suspect in custody

The shooting occurred in Half Moon Bay in the San Francisco area

 

67-year-old Zhao Chunli. (San Mateo County Sheriff's Office)
67-year-old Zhao Chunli. (San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office)

 

A shooting in Northern California left at least seven people dead following shootings at two farms and a suspect was in police custody, officials said Monday.

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a shooting in a mushroom farm in the 12700 block of San Mateo Road in unincorporated San Mateo County just after 2:20 p.m. where they found four people dead from gunshot wounds.

A fifth victim was taken to the Stanford Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. A short time later, deputies responded to the 2100 block of Cabrillo Highway South near the Rice Trucking Soil Farm where they found three more deceased victims.

The suspected gunman turned himself in at a sheriff’s substation. He was identified as 67-year-old Chunli Zhou, a Half Moon Bay resident. A weapon believed to have been used in the shootings was found in his vehicle, authorities said.

A motive for the killings remains unknown, San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus said at a Monday night news conference. She said Zhou was a worker at one of the locations and appears to have acted alone.

President Biden was briefed on the shooting, the White House said.

“He has asked federal law enforcement to provide any necessary assistance to the local authorities,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted. “As more details become available, the President will be updated.”

The shooting came days after another gunman killed 11 people and injured several more during a Lunar New Year celebration at a Monterey Park, California, dance studio over the weekend.

At least four people were killed Monday in separate locations in Northern California. (KTVU)

“At the hospital meeting with victims of a mass shooting when I get pulled away to be briefed about another shooting. This time in Half Moon Bay. Tragedy upon tragedy,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a tweet.