On January 23, 2023, a mass shooting at two mushroom farms in Half Moon Bay, California, left seven people dead, including 64-year-old Half Moon Bay resident Jingzhi Lu. The locations were California Terra Garden (formerly Mountain Mushroom Farm) and Concord Farms. An eighth person, Pedro Romero Perez, survived with critical injuries.

Authorities arrested 66-year-old Chunli Zhao shortly after the shootings at a sheriff’s substation in Half Moon Bay and found a semi-automatic handgun in his vehicle. Zhao, a farmworker who had been employed at one of the targeted farms and previously at the other, was charged with seven counts of murder and one count of attempted murder; the charges include special circumstances allegations. Reports note a past 2013 workplace incident in which Zhao was accused of threatening a coworker and attempting to suffocate him.

The community held vigils and memorials for the victims and discussions about workplace conditions and gun violence followed. If anyone knew Jingzhi Lu or has information about the shooting, please share what you know.