At least seven people were killed in two shootings in northern California last night. The massacre comes less than 48 hours after the shooting in the same state that killed 11 people.
The police chief of San Mateo County, just below San Francisco, confirms that seven people have been killed. This happened at two different locations, including a farm. A perpetrator has been arrested, but little is known about his motive.
Less than two days earlier, a shooting took place about 500 kilometers south of the site, near Los Angeles , that killed eleven people.
67 year old Zhao Chunli arrested in Half Moon Bay shooting. Authorities say at least 4 people shot and killed. More shooting victims possible at another location. City councilwoman Debbie Ruddock says victims are Chinese farmworkers. @nbcbayarea https://t.co/89e5r6DXjY pic.twitter.com/SdySXQs2eB
— Janelle Wang (@janellewang) January 24, 2023
“Little is known about the motive of the perpetrator of this second shooting,” says correspondent Erik Mouthaan. “In the past, we’ve seen some people go into shooting right after a major shooting,” he explains. “Sometimes they even copy such a shooting.”
‘Perpetrator of Asian descent’
“It is striking that this perpetrator is also of Asian descent, according to the name of the suspect that the police have released,” says Mouthaan. It concerns a 67-year-old suspect. The attack on Saturday was carried out by a 72-year-old man and took place in a dance hall celebrating Chinese New Year.
California Governor Gavin Newson was in Monterey Park, where the earlier shooting took place, when he heard the news. “I am in hospital with shooting victims and being called away due to another shooting. Tragedy after tragedy,” he wrote on Twitter.
At the hospital meeting with victims of a mass shooting when I get pulled away to be briefed about another shooting. This time in Half Moon Bay.
Tragedy upon tragedy.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 24, 2023
Governor Newson already lashed out yesterday at Republicans who, according to him, put gun ownership above the safety of citizens, Mouthaan says. “California has fairly sharp gun laws and the question will be how this perpetrator got his gun.”
Newsom is seen as a potential Democratic presidential candidate should President Joe Biden decide to forego a second term.
