Half Moon Bay, California – A tragic incident at a mushroom farm in Half Moon Bay left seven farmworkers dead after a deadly mass shooting in 2023. The shooter, Chunli Zhao, targeted his co-workers at California Terra Garden and Concord Farm, leading to his arrest and pending trial.
Two lawsuits have been filed against the employer of the farm, alleging negligence in protecting the workers from Zhao’s violent actions. The lawsuits claim that the farm owners failed to provide adequate housing and security for their employees, despite knowing about Zhao’s violent history.
The lawsuits highlight the deplorable living conditions of the farmworkers, pointing out makeshift homes with plywood floors and plastic-covered walls. Additionally, they mention a previous shooting incident at the farm, where a farmworker and his family were threatened by an intruder.
One of the lawsuits also references a restraining order filed against Zhao in 2013, citing violent threats made by him towards his roommate. Despite knowing about these incidents, the farm allegedly took no action to protect the workers, ultimately leading to the mass shooting.
The lawsuits claim that Zhao first targeted a farmworker and a supervisor at California Terra Garden before making his way to the farm encampment where several workers lived. The Perez brothers, who shared a trailer at the farm, were also shot by Zhao.
Pedro Felix Romero Perez, one of the survivors of the shooting, was shot five times and has been unable to return to work due to his injuries. The lawsuits further allege that Zhao continued his shooting rampage at Concord Farm, targeting more individuals with whom he allegedly had grudges.
Following the tragic incident, Cal/OSHA cited the farm for multiple violations, including a failure to establish procedures to identify hazards posed by an active shooter and evaluate dangers of workers threatening violence. The lawsuits emphasize the farm owners’ responsibility to provide protection to those on their property, highlighting the lack of security measures in place at the farm.