Seven people were killed by a gunman in Half Moon Bay on Monday afternoon, according to San Mateo County Sheriff’s Deputies. The suspected shooter, Zhao Chunli, is in custody.
Deputies said that at 2:22 p.m. Monday, they were dispatched to the 12700 block of San Mateo Road on Highway 92 in San Mateo County on a report of a shooting with multiple victims.
Upon arrival, deputies located four deceased victims with gunshot wounds. A fifth victim, also suffering from gunshot wounds, was transported to Stanford Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
Shortly thereafter, three additional deceased victims with gunshot wounds were found at a separate shooting scene in the 2100 block of Cabrillo Highway South.
The motive for the shooting is currently unknown.
The suspect was identified as Zhao, a 67-year-old Half Moon Bay resident.
At 4:40 p.m., Zhao was located in his vehicle in the parking lot of the Sheriff’s Office at Half Moon Bay Police Substation by a Sheriff’s deputy.
Zhao was taken into custody without incident.
At an evening press conference, authorities said that a semi-automatic handgun was located in Zhao's vehicle and that he is believed to have acted alone.
“This is a devastating tragedy for this community and the many families touched by this unspeakable act of violence,” said Sheriff Christina Corpus.
“There were farmworkers affected, there were children on the scene at the incidents," said Ray Mueller, a San Mateo County Supervisor who spoke at the press conference. "This is a truly heartbreaking tragedy in our community."
The sheriff will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.
A family reunification center has been set up at the IDES Hall, 735 Main Street, Half Moon Bay.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Deschler at 1-800-547-2700.