Identities of six Half Moon Bay shooting victims released
Coroner withholding name of seventh person killed
The San Mateo County Office of the Coroner confirmed Wednesday the identities of six of the seven victims from Monday's mass shootings at two Half Moon Bay farms.
The people killed after a gunman opened fire at farm workers were identified as:
• Zhishen Liu, 73, San Francisco
• Marciano Martinez Jimenez, 50, Moss Beach
• Aixiang Zhang, 74, San Francisco
• Qizhong Cheng, 66, Half Moon Bay
• Yetao Bing, 43, Residence unknown
• Jingzhi Lu, 65, Half Moon Bay
Relatives told the Bay Area News Group on Tuesday that Jose Romero Perez, in his late 30s, was also killed in the attack. The San Mateo County Coroner's Office said it was withholding one name pending confirmation of his identity and notification of next of kin. Charging documents released by the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office identified him as a victim.
The suspected killer, 66-year old Chunli Zhao, is expected to be formally charged in an arraignment hearing Wednesday afternoon. According to San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, he's facing seven counts of murder, one count of attempted
murder, firearm use enhancements for each count and a special circumstance allegation of multiple murder.
As family and close friends await trial, the processing of the lives lost had just begun.
In a phone interview Tuesday with Bay Area News Group, Alicia Ortega said her boyfriend, Martinez, was one of the victims from what she called Concord Mushroom Farm.
“What can I tell you? Only great things about him,” she said. “He was a human being with a big heart. He cares about everyone.”
Outside Mi Familia grocery Tuesday morning, a worried Renato Juarez Perez of Half Moon Bay
told this news organization he doesn't know much about his two cousins who were caught in the middle of Monday's shooting. At about 4 p.m. Monday, Juarez Perez received a call from a manager at the Mountain Mushroom Farm who told him his 38-yearold cousin Jose Romero Perez was killed and that his other 22-year-old cousin Pedro Romero Perez was badly injured and taken to a hospital.
Renato Juarez Perez and his brother Alex are heartbroken and confused. Renato Juarez Perez said his cousins had only been in Half Moon Bay for a short time: Jose, his four kids and wife have been here for a year and a half and Pedro about two years. They
came here to be close to family and be part of the support system that keeps many farmworker families above water financially and socially.
“Just two days ago we were talking,” Juarez Perez said. “He asked me to give him the number for the Mexican consulate to see about getting a passport to go back home and visit family. I told him I couldn't help him because I was going into work. Our shifts just didn't line up. I didn't get to see him.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.