7 killed in shootings in Northern California

California, USA (AP) _ Seven people were killed Monday in two related shootings _ at a mushroom farm and a trucking company _ in a coastal community south of San Francisco. A suspect is in custody, authorities said.

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Chairman Dave Pine said four people were killed at the farm and three others at the trucking company located on the outskirts of Half Moon Bay, a city about 30 miles (30 km) 30 miles) south of San Francisco.

Police arrested Chunli Zhao, 67, in connection with the shooting, Pine reported.

Pine noted that the suspect worked for one of the businesses. He described the detainee as a “dissatisfied employee.”

It is the sixth shooting massacre in the United States in the 23 days of the year, and it came after 11 people were killed Saturday night in a dance hall in southern California.

The San Mateo County Police Department received the first reports of a shooting before 2:30 p.m. and found four people dead from gunshot wounds and a fifth person injured at the first location. Shortly thereafter, officers found three more people dead from gunshot wounds at a second site about 5 miles (8 kilometers) away, Capt. Eamonn Allen said in a news release.

About two hours after responding to the incident, a police officer found the suspect, Zhao, in his car at a Half Moon Bay police station. He was arrested and a weapon was found in his vehicle. The police department believes he acted alone, Allen said.

The department did not provide information on the relationship between the two places.

The motive for the shooting is unknown, Allen said.

“We’re still trying to understand exactly what happened and why, but it’s extremely tragic,” said state Sen. Josh Becker, who represents the area. He added that the area was a “close-knit” farming community.

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