Farmworker tells TV station he killed 7 on California farms
Share this @internewscast.com

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – A farmworker charged in the killings of seven current and former co-workers at two Northern California mushroom farms admitted during a jailhouse interview Thursday that he committed the fatal shootings.

Chunli Zhao, 66, told KNTV-TV that he wasn’t in his right mind when he entered a mushroom farm where he worked in Half Moon Bay and shot and killed four people and seriously wounded a fifth. He then drove to a nearby farm where he worked previously and killed three more people, prosecutors said.

Zhao said he was bullied and worked long hours on the farms and that his complaints were ignored, the station reported.

Eric Hove, one of Zhao’s attorneys, did not immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment.

He spoke in Mandarin with the television station reporter during a 15-minute interview at a county jail in Redwood City. Zhao said he has been in the U.S. for 11 years and has a green card. He said he has a 40-year-old daughter in China and lived with his wife in Half Moon Bay.

Zhao told the station he bought the gun used in the killings in 2021 and didn’t run into any obstacles when making the purchase. He was planning to turn himself in to authorities when he was spotted by deputies who arrested him Monday.

The shootings occurred Monday at California Terra Garden, previously known as Mountain Mushroom Farm, and nearby Concord Farms.

David Oates, a spokesman for California Terra Garden, confirmed Zhao lived on the farm along with his wife and said the farm has “no knowledge of any complaints by anyone on allegations of bullying.”

On Wednesday, the San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe charged Zhao with seven counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

The charges against Zhao include additional allegations that could result in the death penalty or life in prison without parole, though Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued a moratorium on executions. Among those allegations are that Zhao used a gun, caused great bodily injury and killed multiple people.

The coroner’s office named six of the victims: Zhishen Liu, 73, of San Francisco; Marciano Martinez Jimenez, 50, of Moss Beach, 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 documents identify Jose Romero Perez as the other person killed and Pedro Romero Perez as the eighth victim, who survived the shooting.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe expecting his first child with long-term partner Erin Darke

Daniel Radcliffe is expecting his first child with girlfriend Erin Darke, it’s…

Man struck by tractor-trailer in Liberty County

HINESVILLE, Ga. () – A crash in Liberty County on I-95 has…

Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigating deadly overnight shooting

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) – Saturday morning before 1 am, Washington County…

Woman's fury over 'dreadful' behaviour at Huddersfield flats by 'low-lifes with no respect'

Residents plagued by late-night noises and anti-social behaviour, it is claimed

The science and math behind competitive Pokemon training (yes, it exists)

BISMARCK, N.D. (KXNET) — A new series of Pokémon Championships is on…

Matt Gaetz Calls on DeSantis, Cruz to Endorse Trump for President

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz (R) called on Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and…

Florida lawmaker appears to get trolled with fake names

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida state representative was tricked into reading…

Jevon Jackson Arrested For Speeding to Taco Bell

Share copy link Jevon Jackson (Brevard County Jail) Palm Bay police arrested…

Jonathan Majors arrested on assault charge in New York

FILE – Jonathan Majors arrives at the American Black Film Festival Honors…

TikTok Part of the ‘Battlefield’ in ‘Cold War’ with China

On Friday’s “PBS NewsHour,” New York Times columnist David Brooks stated that…

DWP to pay £172 a week to people suffering from these 50 medical conditions

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are granting claimants up to £172…

PHOTOS: Gusty winds down trees, cause damage in Tri-Cities | WJHL

TRI-CITIES, Tenn./Va. (WJHL) – Recent storms brought with them damaging winds that…