On January 23, 2023, a tragic mass shooting occurred in Half Moon Bay, California, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals, including 74-year-old Aixiang Zhang. The incident took place at two agricultural sites: California Terra Garden (formerly Mountain Mushroom Farm) and Concord Farms. The perpetrator, 66-year-old Chunli Zhao, was an employee at California Terra Garden and had previously worked at Concord Farms.
He was apprehended without incident after being found in his vehicle at the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office substation.
The victims of this senseless act were identified as Yetao Bing, 43; Qizhong Cheng, 66; Zhishen Liu, 73; Jingzhi Lu, 64; Marciano Martinez Jimenez, 50; Jose Romero Perez, 38; and Aixiang Zhang, 74. Five of the victims were Chinese citizens, a fact that drew condemnation from China's consulate in San Francisco. Additionally, 23-year-old Pedro Felix Romero Perez, the younger brother of Jose, was critically injured in the attack, suffering multiple gunshot wounds.
In the aftermath of the shooting, investigations revealed that Zhao had been involved in a dispute over a $100 repair bill for damaged equipment, which may have been a contributing factor to the violence. He was charged with seven counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances and one count of attempted first-degree murder. Initially, the trial was scheduled for December 2024; however, at the defense's request for additional time to investigate, it has been postponed to April 29, 2025.
This tragic event not only highlighted issues of workplace violence but also brought attention to the living and working conditions of farm laborers in the area. Subsequent investigations led to the recovery of over $450,000 in back wages and damages for workers at the two farms, who had been subjected to illegal payroll deductions and substandard housing conditions. The owners of California Terra Gardens and Concord Farms were also fined $70,000 in civil penalties for these violations.
