Half Moon Bay, California – A mushroom farm in Half Moon Bay failed to protect its workers from a deadly mass shooting in 2023, as revealed by a pair of lawsuits filed against the employer. The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of seven individuals at California Terra Garden and Concord Farm where the gunman specifically targeted the workers.
Prosecutors have pressed charges against Chunli Zhao, a 67-year-old, in connection with the fatal shooting. Allegedly, the violent outburst was triggered after Zhao was informed that he would have to pay $100 to repair a damaged forklift. Zhao, currently awaiting trial, is scheduled to appear in court later this month.
The lawsuits, filed by the victims’ families, accuse Xianmin Guan, one of the owners of California Terra Garden, of failing to provide adequate housing and ensure the safety of the workers, especially in the presence of a colleague with a violent history. According to attorney Duffy Magilligan, representing one survivor and a deceased victim’s family, there were multiple warning signs that Zhao posed a danger, including previous violent incidents at the farm.
Pedro Felix Romero Perez, one of the survivors, had been working at California Terra Garden since 2021. His brother, Jose Romero Perez, joined him at the farm after migrating from Oaxaca, Mexico. The lawsuits reiterate claims that the living conditions at the farm were deplorable, with workers residing in makeshift homes made of plywood and plastic.
In addition to inadequate housing, the lawsuits allege that the farm owners failed to protect their premises against foreseeable criminal acts, citing a previous shooting incident that took place seven months before the mass shooting. Despite being aware of Zhao’s violent history, the farm management reportedly took no action to ensure the safety of its workers, ultimately leading to the tragic events of January 23, 2023.
Magilligan stated that Zhao first targeted a worker at California Terra Garden before proceeding to kill a supervisor and then making his way to the farm encampment. The lawsuit claims that Zhao entered the trailer shared by the Perez brothers and shot them both. While Pedro is still recovering from his injuries, he has been unable to return to work.
Following the shooting, Cal/OSHA cited the farm for 22 violations, highlighting the lack of procedures in place to address hazards posed by an active shooter. Magilligan emphasized the responsibility of landowners to ensure the safety of individuals on their property, underscoring the need for accountability in cases like these where preventable tragedies occur.