HALF MOON BAY, Calif. — Sooner or later after assembly with victims’ households mourning a taking pictures rampage in Southern California, Gov. Gavin Newsom will journey to the Northern California neighborhood of Half Moon Bay, the place two shootings left seven individuals lifeless.
The suspected shooter is in custody and will likely be arraigned Wednesday in reference to the assaults at plant nurseries 30 miles south of San Francisco. The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Workplace stated 4 individuals have been discovered lifeless on the Mountain Mushroom Farm, the place the suspect labored, and a fifth was taken to a hospital with life-threatening accidents. Three our bodies have been discovered at a second scene – a farm the place the suspect used to work – a short while later.
The county coroner’s workplace was working to determine the victims, a few of whom have been migrants, and notify their subsequent of kin.
The FBI stated on Twitter that it was serving to native legislation enforcement with the investigation.
All proof factors to the assault as an “occasion of office violence,” Sheriff Christina Corpus stated Tuesday. “Our hearts are damaged, and we’re working along with the neighborhood to heal this tragic incident.”
Vice President Kamala Harris can also be set to go to her house state Wednesday within the wake of the 2 shootings, the White Home introduced Tuesday because the Biden administration advances its plans for laws to ban assault weapons. Harris will journey to Monterey Park, the place 11 individuals have been killed at a dance studio on Saturday.
HALF MOON BAY SHOOTINGS:7 lifeless in two associated incidents in California; suspect arrested
Grief counseling out there for residents, San Mateo County official says
County officers labored to supply counseling for grieving residents, Ray Mueller of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors advised USA TODAY. He stated the varied, agricultural neighborhood was already reeling from three weeks of storms and flooding.
TIMELINE:How the shootings in Half Moon Bay, California, unfolded
Mueller described the scene on the reunification middle Monday as considered one of “shock and unhappiness,” however he praised residents for coming collectively to assist the victims’ households.
“Late into the evening, we had individuals coming, bringing blankets, provides, and meals,” he stated. “The neighborhood is rallying round. The subsequent factor we’ll be doing is elevating cash for the misplaced wages for these households.”
‘Would not occur right here’: Group in shock
A day after the killings on the mushroom farm, native resident Juan Martinez stated he’s nonetheless uneasy.
Martinez, a gross sales and upkeep supervisor at Spanish City, an arts and crafts retailer in entrance of the farm the place the deadly shootings occurred, stated each shootings have been near his job and minutes away from the place he lives.
“Once I heard it was a taking pictures my thoughts began going locations and I instantly thought of Monterey Park,” Martinez, 47, stated.
He was relieved when he realized that the alleged gunman was arrested.
“Stuff like this doesn’t occur right here. Ever,” Martinez stated. “We see automotive accidents and that’s often essentially the most harmful, till yesterday.”
Teresa Helms of close by Paradise, California, stopped by the crafts retailer alongside together with her husband later. She too was relieved a suspect was taken into custody.
“If he hadn’t been caught, we wouldn’t be right here,” stated Helms, 53, who grew up in Half Moon Bay. “It’s such as you’re not protected anyplace anymore. You simply should watch out of your environment, regardless of the place you might be.”
Suspect to be arraigned Wednesday
Police will submit the case to the district legal professional’s workplace for evaluation Tuesday and the suspect will likely be arraigned Wednesday, San Mateo County District Lawyer Steve Wagstaffe stated. The fees haven’t but been decided.
Victims have been Chinese language, Latino farmworkers
The Sheriff’s Workplace first obtained studies of a taking pictures simply earlier than 2:30 p.m. Monday, authorities stated.
Half Moon Bay Vice Mayor Joaquin Jimenez stated the victims included Chinese language and Latino farmworkers.
Some staff at one facility lived on the premises, and youngsters might have witnessed the taking pictures, Corpus stated. She stated it wasn’t instantly clear how the 2 places have been related.
Corpus stated Tuesday that the victims included seven males and one lady. She stated the coroner’s workplace remains to be working to determine the victims and notify their subsequent of kin, a process that presents “distinctive challenges” as a result of a number of the victims are members of the migrant neighborhood.
The particular person within the hospital was in steady situation, Corpus stated. The one identified connection between the victims and the suspect is that they might have been co-workers, she stated.
Suspect in custody, ‘no menace’ to neighborhood
A suspect, Chunli Zhao, 67, a resident of Half Moon Bay, was arrested with out incident at his automotive within the car parking zone of the Half Moon Bay Police Substation greater than two hours after deputies arrived on the first taking pictures scene, Corpus stated. A semi-automatic handgun was in his car, in line with Corpus. She stated Tuesday the gun was legally bought and owned.
Officers consider Zhao is a employee at one of many amenities, and the victims have been staff as effectively. Some staff at one facility lived on the premises and youngsters might have witnessed the taking pictures, Corpus stated. The connection between the brand new amenities wasn’t clear.
Corpus stated officers hadn’t decided a motive for the taking pictures, although county board of supervisors President Dave Pine described the suspect as a “disgruntled employee.”
HORROR AND HEROISM:In Monterey Park taking pictures, ballrooms grew to become the scene of sudden horror, beautiful heroism
Biden presents prayers, pushes for gun management laws
President Joe Biden issued a press release saying he and his spouse, Jill, have been praying for the victims.
“For the second time in current days, California communities are mourning the lack of family members in a mindless act of gun violence,” the assertion stated.
Biden stated he met together with his Homeland Safety staff and directed his administration to make sure native authorities and the broader Half Moon Bay neighborhood have full assist of “within the wake of this heinous assault.”
Biden additionally lobbied for his newest gun management invoice, noting that Sen. Barbara Feinstein, D-Calif., was amongst lawmakers who reintroduced a invoice that would come with a federal assault weapons ban and laws that will increase the minimal buy age for assault weapons to 21.
“Whilst we await additional particulars on these shootings, we all know the scourge of gun violence throughout America requires stronger motion,” the assertion stated. “I as soon as once more urge each chambers of Congress to behave rapidly and ship this Assault Weapons Ban to my desk, and take motion to maintain American communities, faculties, workplaces, and houses protected.”
VICTIMS REMEMBERED:Households keep in mind these slain in Monterey Park mass taking pictures: ‘Our greatest cheerleader,’ the ‘lifetime of any get together’
The place is Half Moon Bay?
Half Moon Bay is a coastal neighborhood of about 12,000 individuals 30 miles south of San Francisco. The town turns into the positioning of the second mass taking pictures in California in two days, sitting nearly 400 miles northwest of Monterey Park. Eleven individuals have been killed in a taking pictures rampage at a dance studio there Saturday evening; the suspected shooter was later discovered lifeless in a van.
Contributing: Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY; The Related Press