SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – The man now formally charged with the murders of seven people in Half Moon Bay appeared in San Mateo County Superior Court today.
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66-year old Chunli Zhao, a Chinese National who has been living in the U.S. for at least ten years, was denied bail during his court appearance on Wednesday because prosecutors believe he could be a flight risk.
His hands shackled, donning an orange jail jumpsuit, Zhao held a yellow piece of paper in front of his face as he stood behind a glass pain wall separating him from the court room. His hands trembled. He identified himself to a judge through a translator.
Investigators claim Zhao used a legally purchased semiautomatic handgun to shoot eight coworkers on Monday at two separate mushroom farms, killing seven and leaving one with life threatening injuries. Authorities described the shootings as an "incident of workplace violence" during a news conference on Tuesday.
Zhao faces seven murder counts and one count of attempted murder and could face life without parole or the death penalty if he is convicted. He was appointed defense lawyers by the court.
The victims of the mass shooting were mostly migrant workers of Asian and Hispanic dissent. Six of the seven were identified by the coroner's office on Wednesday. San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said he will work to ensure victims' families are well served.
"I would say to them that the one thing they can count on is that the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office will do everything in its power working with the sheriff's office to make sure that justice is done here and that the right outcome occurs," Wagstaffe stated.
Court documents obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, revealed a temporary restraining order had been filed against Zhao back in 2013 by a former roommate and coworker, who alleged that the suspect had tried to suffocate him and made death threats against him.
Zhao was booked into Redwood City jail on Monday after he was found in the parking lot of a Half Moon Bay sheriff substation. He was arrested on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and gun enhancements and is being held without bail. The motive is still unknown.
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