Half Moon Bay, California – Two lawsuits have been filed against a mushroom farm in Half Moon Bay, California, following a deadly mass shooting in 2023. The lawsuits allege that the farm failed to protect its workers from a gunman who targeted them, resulting in the tragic deaths of seven individuals. Chunli Zhao, the accused gunman, is currently facing charges for the shooting that took place at California Terra Garden and Concord Farm.
Prosecutors claim that the shooting was sparked by a dispute over a $100 repair bill for a damaged forklift. The lawsuits accuse Xianmin Guan, one of the farm’s owners, of not only providing substandard housing for workers but also failing to protect them from a co-worker with a history of violence. The lawsuits were filed on behalf of Pedro Felix Romero Perez, who survived the shooting despite sustaining five gunshot wounds, as well as the family of his brother, Jose Romero Perez, who tragically lost his life in the attack.
According to the lawsuits, the farmworkers, including the Perez brothers, were living in inadequate and makeshift homes on the farm. The owners allegedly did not take sufficient measures to secure the premises against foreseeable criminal acts, such as the violent rampage carried out by Zhao. The lawsuits also reference a previous incident in which a man attempted to break into a trailer on the farm and threatened violence.
Despite prior knowledge of Zhao’s violent history, including a restraining order filed against him in 2013 for threatening behavior, the farm allegedly failed to protect its workers, leading to the tragic events of the mass shooting. The lawsuits detail how Zhao targeted farmworkers, resulting in the deaths of several individuals before driving to Concord Farms to continue his shooting spree.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Cal/OSHA cited the farm for multiple violations, including a failure to establish procedures for identifying and addressing hazards posed by an active shooter. The lawsuits emphasize the farm’s responsibility to provide a safe environment for its workers and criticize the lack of protective measures taken by the owners.
The legal actions against the farm shed light on the importance of workplace safety and the duty of employers to protect their employees. The tragic events that unfolded at the mushroom farm serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of negligence in ensuring a secure work environment for farmworkers.