Chunli Zhao, a 66-year-old Half Moon Bay farmworker accused of killing seven of his co-workers in a case of “office violence” was charged with seven counts of homicide and one rely of tried homicide on Wednesday.
Zhao was set to make his first court docket look Wednesday, nevertheless it was postponed till Feb. 16, San Mateo County District Legal professional Steve Wagstaffe mentioned in a press convention Wednesday. His attorneys didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digitals request for remark.
Wagstaffe shared that prosecutors requested no bail since Zhao just isn’t a U.S. citizen and has “loads of motive to run.”
On the press convention, Wagstaffe declined to share any further particulars on a motive within the killing of Zhao’s coworkers, saying he wished to maintain the small print out of the general public eye to make sure a good trial. Sheriff’s officers have mentioned it was office violence.
Along with seven counts of homicide, Zhao was charged with one rely of tried homicide, firearm use enhancements and a rely of particular circumstance allegation of a number of homicide, Wagstaffe mentioned.
HALF MOON BAY, CALIFORNIA, DEADLY FARM SHOOTINGS: WHO IS SUSPECT CHUNLI ZHAO?
Authorities consider Zhao acted alone Monday when he entered a mushroom farm the place he labored in Half Moon Bay, shot and killed 4 folks and critically wounded a fifth. He then drove to a close-by farm the place he labored beforehand and killed three extra folks, mentioned Eamonn Allen, a sheriff’s spokesperson.
About two hours after deputies responded to the 2 separate capturing scenes, authorities mentioned Zhao was positioned at 4:40 p.m. Monday in his automobile within the parking zone of the San Mateo Sheriff’s Workplace the place a deputy took him into custody with out incident.
The San Mateo County Coroner’s Workplace has named six of the victims: Zhishen Liu, 73, of San Francisco; Marciano Martinez Jimenez, 50, of Moss Seashore, California; Aixiang Zhang, 74, of San Francisco; Qizhong Cheng, 66, of Half Moon Bay; Jingzhi Lu, 64, of Half Moon Bay; and Yetao Bing, 43, whose hometown was unknown. The charging paperwork determine Jose Romero Perez as the opposite individual killed and Pedro Romero Perez because the eighth sufferer, who survived the capturing.
All victims are considered staff on the nurseries and have been of Asian and Hispanic descent, authorities mentioned.
Servando Martinez Jimenez mentioned his brother Marciano Martinez Jimenez, one of many victims, was a supply individual and supervisor at one of many farms. He by no means talked about Zhao or mentioned something about issues with different staff.
“He was a very good individual. He was well mannered and pleasant with everybody. He by no means had any issues with anybody. I don’t perceive why all this occurred,” Martinez Jimenez mentioned in Spanish.
It might not have been Zhao’s first match of office rage, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. In 2013, Zhao was accused of threatening to separate a coworker’s head open with a knife and individually tried to suffocate the person with a pillow, the Chronicle reported, primarily based on court docket paperwork.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SHOOTING LEAVES AT LEAST SEVEN DEAD, OFFICIALS SAY: SUSPECT IN CUSTODY
The 2 have been roommates and labored at a restaurant, and the person, recognized as Jingjiu Wang, filed a brief restraining order in opposition to Zhao that was granted however is not in impact.
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President Dave Pine described Zhao as a “disgruntled employee,” KRON reported.
Zhao is from China and has lived in america for a minimum of a dozen years, Wagstaffe mentioned. He had authorized paperwork to reside within the nation at one time and investigators are figuring out whether or not it’s nonetheless legitimate, Wagstaffe mentioned. They have been additionally wanting into his prior contact with legislation enforcement.
In line with The Unbiased, Zhao labored on the mushroom farm for many years.
The Half Moon Bay bloodshed was the third mass capturing for California in eight days. On Saturday, suspect Huu Can Tran allegedly opened fireplace on the Lai Lai Ballroom, a dance corridor in Monterey Park, killing 11 folks and wounding 9 others, in response to police. It occurred forward of Chinese language New 12 months.
On Jan. 16, a teenage mom, her child and 4 others have been killed at a house in California’s Central Valley.
“Solely in America will we see this type of carnage, this type of chaos, this type of disruption of communities and lives and confidence and sense of security and belonging,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom mentioned Tuesday following the back-to-back mass shootings.
The brand new 12 months has introduced six mass killings within the U.S. in fewer than three weeks, accounting for 39 deaths. Three have struck California since Jan. 16, in response to a database compiled by The Related Press, USA In the present day and Northeastern College.
Fox Information’ Danielle Wallace and the Related Press contributed to this report.
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