CALIFORNIA—Nineteen people were shot and killed in three separate mass shootings in California in three days.
On Monday around 2:20pm four people were killed at the Mountain Mushroom Co. on Highway 92 in the surf-side city of Half Moon Bay. A short while later the suspect, identified by Half Moon Bay Police as Chunli Zhao, 67, of Half Moon Bay, killed three more people a short distance away at a farm nearby on Highway 1.
Officials now describe the attack as an apparent “act of workplace violence.”
Shortly after the shooting, police said Zhao was spotted in his SUV by an officer at a Sheriff’s substation in Half Moon Bay. Police tackled him at gunpoint and took him into custody without further incident.
One person remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
Zhao is expected to be arraigned Wednesday in Redwood City, according to San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe. He is accused of acting alone, according to San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus, and is cooperating with the investigation.
The first of the three shootings happened Saturday night in Monterey Park in Southern California where 11 Asian American people were killed during a Chinese Lunar New Year celebration inside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio. Monterey Park Police said the suspected gunman, Huu Can Tran, 72, of Hemet shot and killed himself a short while later inside a white utility van. Ten other people were injured.
Monterey Park Mayor Henry Lo said the shooting occurred at 10:22pm at 122 West Garvey.
“Even though the incident did not occur at the 2023 Lunar New Year Festival, an active investigation is currently underway and the area near and around the festival is affected,” he posted on the city’s website late Saturday.
“We understand our community is looking for answers. The safety of our residents is our priority and we remain committed in providing information as this investigation unfolds,” Lo said.
Authorities say they are still trying to find a motive.
On Monday evening in Oakland seven people were injured and one person was killed in a shooting on the 5900 block of MaCarthur Boulevard, police said.
Oakland Police were dispatched to a Valero gas station around 6pm to reports of multiple gunshots. Then they learned of multiple victims showing up at area hospitals. Witnesses told police that there was some form of gun battle between several shooters. No suspects have been arrested.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, 40 mass shootings have been recorded in the U.S. in 2023—topping any year on record as of Jan. 24.
Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on Twitter about the shootings.
“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,” Newsom wrote. “Tragedy upon tragedy.”
President Joe Biden also noted in the announcement that a federal assault weapons ban was reintroduced in Congress on Monday.
“Even as we await further details on these shootings, we know the scourge of gun violence across America requires stronger action,” he said in the announcement. “I once again urge both chambers of Congress to act quickly and deliver this Assault Weapons Ban to my desk, and take action to keep American communities, schools, workplaces and homes safe.”
Katy St. Clair and Thomas Hughes of Bay City News Foundation contributed to this article.
Biden is correct. Newsom is correct. we need to have a semi automatic assault weapons ban. they are tools of war, and NO civilian needs to have them. we had such a ban from 1993-2004 and our death rate from mass shootings was dramatically lower than it is now. this is a USA problem only. allowing the NRA, and its main enabler, the RETHUGLICAN party , make weapons policy is DEADLY and Anti American.
Steven
California has the strictest gun laws in the nation. Let’s get an assault ban on the California docket for the voters to approve. Gun buybacks work for citizens.
Unfortunately the criminals and gangs will always out gun law enforcement
California has a Democratic Super majority with over 100 strict gun laws. Guys
The Republicans have no power in California the Democratic Party runs all laws in California
Alas still mass shootings happen every day in California? Gun laws don’t seem to be working in California? I wonder why? Steve any thoughts????? Incompetent government see to be the answer
Oh well tisk tisk
stop whoring for the gun lobby. you are about as much truth as is your hero, George Santos. you just cannot keep from lying. you are a trumpty dumpty protege, and your fake name is LAUGHABLE.
New Zealand eliminated ownership a few years ago of assault, semi automatic weapons. the gun murder rate has fallen dramatically ever since. you are not only NOT truth, but rather falsehoods, lies and smears. that is who you are, and just as GUTLESS as ever , standing behind a trump like anonymous name, NOT YOUR OWN.
why not look at FBI statistics about gun violence? you will NOT because you HATE the FBI and all law enforcement that seeks to get weapons of mass killing off the streets. Now that we have a Biden-appointed director of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms we are doing better at finding the sources of these guns. We need a nation wide , semi automatic assault weapons ban. Bozo Bush allowed ti to lapse, with REHTUGLICAN supporters like you, and we have had skyrocketing gun violence ever since.
CA is not an island, and we need the same restrictions across tha nation. by the way, CA has the 42nd lowest rate of gun violence of ANY state in the USA. FBI statistics, which you hate, as they are reality for your fantasy.
but gun worshipping haters like you , who invest in weapons manufacturers, are the reason for the blockade of the semi automatic ban. your money from guns is more important than human lives to you. which is why you are a total phony, along with your disgraced fellow phony, trumpty dumpty.