Not less than seven individuals had been killed in two associated shootings within the beach-side group of Half Moon Bay, an act of violence that comes simply two days after 11 individuals had been killed in one other mass taking pictures in Monterey Park.
The suspected shooter, a 67-year-old resident of the group, opened hearth in two rural places a couple of mile distant, taking pictures a few of the victims in entrance of youngsters who lived close by and had not too long ago been launched from faculty.
“This type of taking pictures is horrific; it’s a tragedy we hear about too typically,” San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus stated. “For kids to witness that is unspeakable.”
The suspect, believed to be a employee at one of many close by farms or nurseries, was arrested about two hours after the shootings sitting in a parked automotive at a sheriff’s substation.
The victims are additionally believed to be employees at close by farms, officers stated.
“It is a devastating tragedy for this group and the households touched by this unspeakable act of violence,” Corpus stated.
Deputies with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Workplace first discovered 4 victims shot to demise within the 12700 block of San Mateo Highway in an unincorporated space of the county simply earlier than 2:30 p.m.
A fifth sufferer was additionally discovered within the space and brought to Stanford Medical Middle with life-threatening accidents, the Sheriff’s Workplace stated in an announcement to The Occasions.
Minutes later, in an space a couple of mile away within the 2100 block of Cabrillo Freeway, deputies discovered three extra victims useless of obvious gunshot wounds.
Regulation enforcement officers examine the scene of a mass taking pictures off Cabrillo Freeway in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Monday.
(Karl Mondon / Bay Space Information Group )
Corpus stated the suspect was believed to have pushed from one location to the following, taking pictures the unidentified victims at every web site.
The motive for the shootings remains to be unknown, sheriff’s officers stated in an announcement.
The suspected shooter, recognized as Chunli Zhao, was noticed sitting in his automotive on the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Workplace substation in Half Moon Bay at about 4:40 p.m., officers stated.
Video from ABC 7 confirmed deputies taking a person to the bottom within the parking zone. The person was sporting a white cap, vest and crimson long-sleeve shirt.
The weapon believed to have been used within the incident, a semiautomatic handgun, was discovered inside his automotive.
“I’m very sorry for the households of the victims,” Half Moon Bay Mayor Deborah Penrose instructed The Occasions.
Penrose stated she had been instructed that no less than a few of the victims had been employees at close by farms.
Metropolis officers had been reaching out to nonprofit organizations to supply assist for the affected households, she stated.
“Gun violence on this nation has hit unacceptable ranges,” stated San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President David Pine, acknowledging the tragedy that occurred in Monterey Park on Saturday. “Our hearts are damaged.”
The taking pictures that killed 11 at Monterey Park despatched shock waves by the group. It was one of many worst mass taking pictures incidents in Los Angeles County.
Now the Half Moon Bay shootings rank among the many deadliest within the San Francisco Bay Space, topped in current reminiscence solely by the 2021 incident when a employee for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority shot and killed 9 coworkers at a light-weight rail yard.
“That is one thing we get to observe on the information, by no means suppose it’s going to come back dwelling,” stated Joaquin Jimenez, vice mayor of Half Moon Bay.
On Twitter, Gov. Gavin Newsom famous he was within the hospital assembly the victims of the Monterey Park taking pictures when he was notified in regards to the shootings in Half Moon Bay.
“Tragedy upon tragedy,” Newsom tweeted.
President Biden additionally has been briefed on the state of affairs, and has requested federal regulation enforcement officers to supply any wanted help to native regulation enforcement, in accordance with an announcement from White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
“The scourge of gun violence has sadly hit dwelling,” San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine stated in an announcement. “We have now not even had time to grieve for these misplaced within the horrible taking pictures in Monterey Park. Gun violence should cease. The State of California has among the many strictest gun legal guidelines in the USA, which we have now strengthened by native motion right here, however extra should be performed. The established order can’t be tolerated.”
UPDATED Jan. 22, 2023 | 12:44 AM
How can we outline a mass taking pictures?
Mass shootings are outlined as a taking pictures with 4 or extra individuals killed — not together with the shooter — in a public location with firearms, as outlined by the Congressional Analysis Service.
Are mass shootings associated to psychological sickness?
Most individuals who’ve and dwell with a psychological sickness are nonviolent. Most shooters skilled early childhood trauma and publicity to violence at a younger age, and most shooters have studied the actions of different shooters and sought validation for his or her motives. Based on the Violence Venture — a nonprofit, nonpartisan analysis middle devoted to lowering violence in society — the function of significant psychological sickness in mass shootings is advanced. The mission experiences that greater than 80% of mass shooters had been in a notable disaster previous to the taking pictures. Psychosis performed no function for practically 70% of mass shooters, in accordance with the report.
For those who or somebody you recognize is combating suicidal ideas, search assist from knowledgeable and name the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK (8255). Textual content “HOME” to 741741 within the U.S. and Canada to achieve the Disaster Textual content Line.
Are mass shootings turning into extra lethal and extra widespread?
Sure, mass shootings have been getting extra lethal over the a long time. James Densley and Jillian Peterson, who run the Violence Venture and have studied each public mass taking pictures since 1966, write that greater than half of the shootings have occurred since 2000 and 33% since 2010. They write that for many years, the toll of mass shootings has risen steadily. Through the Nineteen Seventies, mass shootings claimed a median of 5.7 lives per 12 months. In 2019, the common determine was 51 deaths per 12 months . In 2020, mass shootings had been far much less frequent in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, as colleges, workplaces and church buildings shut down. Now they’re ticking again up.
What’s the contagion impact?
Most shooters have studied the actions of different shooters and need validation for his or her motives, in accordance with James Densley and Jillian Peterson of the Violence Venture. That’s why mass shootings can are available in clusters and might be socially contagious, a phenomenon referred to as the contagion impact. Analysis additionally exhibits how media experiences on mass shootings can play a task within the contagion impact or copycat incidents, in accordance with Dr. Dan Reidenberg from Suicide Consciousness Voices of Training (SAVE) at a Poynter seminar on mass shootings. Accountable and useful reporting can inform and educate the general public and presumably cut back the chance of violence, in accordance with the seminar.
How will you speak to your little one about mass shootings?
Examine in along with your little one and speak to them about their issues. Reassure them that they’re secure (which is nice recommendation for all trauma survivors). Tailor conversations and subjects to what’s applicable to your little one’s age. Restrict their publicity to media protection of shootings. Keep routines and mannequin wholesome conduct as mother and father. Have a plan along with your youngsters in case of an emergency. Additionally, look ahead to modifications of their conduct, sleep, temper and urge for food. Each little one responds to trauma in a different way and might present indicators of stress at completely different instances, in accordance with the American Psychological Assn.
Assemblyman Marc Berman famous the size of violence to hit California: “Two hours in the past I joined my colleagues on the Capitol steps for a vigil for the victims of the taking pictures in Monterey Park,” he stated on Twitter. “Earlier than we’ve even had an opportunity to mourn them, there may be one more mass taking pictures — this time in Half Moon Bay. In my district.”
The investigation into the Monterey Park mass taking pictures is concentrated on the gunman’s earlier interactions at two dance studios he focused and whether or not jealousy over a relationship was the motive, in accordance with regulation enforcement sources.
The sources confused that the investigation was in its early phases. However detectives imagine that 72-year-old Huu Can Tran frequented the golf equipment — the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park and the Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio in Alhambra — and that the taking pictures may need been sparked by a private dispute.
Inside Tran’s dwelling in Hemet, investigators discovered a .308-caliber rifle, lots of of rounds of ammunition, digital gadgets, together with cellphones and computer systems, and gadgets that led officers to suspect he was manufacturing firearm suppressors, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated at a information convention Monday.