HALF MOON BAY -- Federal, state, and local politicians expressed their condolences for the victims of shootings in Half Moon Bay on Monday that killed seven people and wounded one.
California was still reeling from Saturday's mass shooting in Monterey Park in Southern California when the news of the tragedy in Half Moon Bay came out on Monday afternoon.
Gavin Newsom wrote on Twitter at 4:15 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."
Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, said in a statement that gun violence "plagues" the nation.
"This incessant cycle must be broken for the sake of our children and grandchildren," Thompson said.
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors president Dave Pine spoke on behalf of the board.
"We are sickened by today's tragedy in Half Moon Bay," he said in a statement. "The scourge of gun violence has sadly hit home," adding that the "status quo cannot be tolerated."
Supervisor Ray Mueller said the board was working with the county to organize community mental health services and counseling in the wake of the shootings.
"This scourge of gun violence that, in recent days, has afflicted our state and our community must come to an end!" Mueller said.
Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, represents the congressional district that includes Half Moon Bay and expressed gratitude to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office for taking the suspect, Chunli Zhao, into custody.
"Half Moon Bay is a beloved and tight-knit community, and we all stand with them and the families of the victims during this dark hour," Eshoo said.
San Francisco Supervisor Myrna Meigar also weighed in, writing on Twitter, "7 dead in another mass shooting. Half Moon Bay god dammit!!! What is it going to take America?"
Making reference to the Monterey Park shootings, President Joe Biden on Monday announced the introduction of an assault weapons and high-capacity magazine ban in the Senate, as well as raising the age to purchase them to 21.
The first incident took place at Mountain Mushroom Farm, while a second shooting took place at Rice Trucking-Soil Farm.
Local news coverage showed large numbers of police outside of a group of residential, trailer-style buildings at Mountain Mushroom Farm, questioning workers.
A coroner is on the scene.
A suspect is in custody and there’s no active threat to the community, according to officials.
Police could be seen on local newscasts handcuffing a man near Kelly Avenue and taking him into custody, yelling, “Get your hands up in the air! Get out of the vehicle and get down on the ground!”
The suspect has been identified as 67-year-old Zhao Chunli of Half Moon Bay, NBC Bay Area reports.
His four alleged victims are Chinese farmworkers, city council member Debbie Ruddock told the station.
The shooting in the Half Moon Bay area, just south of San Francisco, comes on the heels of a mass shooting over the weekend in Southern California, where 10 were killed and numerous were injured during a Lunar New Year celebration outside of Los Angeles.
“This is really a tragedy in light of what’s happened,” San Mateo County Supervisor told ABC7. “This is an incident we’re all shocked about.”
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