Local people mourn victims of a mass shooting in front of the city hall of Monterey Park, California, the US, on January 26, 2023. Hundreds of people gathered at the Monterey Park City Hall Thursday evening for a memorial for the loss of the shooting which killed 11 and wounded nine. Photo: VCG

 

Five Chinese nationals were confirmed dead in a mass shooting at Half Moon Bay in California, according to Consulate-General of China in San Francisco.

The Consulate-General was shocked and saddened by the serious shooting that occurred on Monday, a spokesperson of the Consulate-General in San Francisco said in a statement on Thursday.

"We strongly condemn gun violence, and would like to express our deep condolences to the victims, to the injured and the families of the victims."

The Consulate-General has contacted the majority of victims' family members and will provide necessary assistance, the spokesperson said.

The Consulate-General is in communication with relevant US government departments to follow up on the investigation into the case, according to the spokesperson.

The rampage in the coastal city of Half Moon Bay is the second mass shooting the city has suffered in just 48 hours. An earlier incident at a dance studio in Monterey Park on Saturday night left 11 people dead, CNN reported.

A suspect linked to the shooting at Half Moon Bay, known for its farmland, was arrested and has been charged with seven counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

The suspect - identified as 66-year-old Chunli Zhao - was charged with shooting dead four at a mushroom farm where he was working and three more at another nearby farm. He was a "coworker or former coworker" of the victims, CNN reported citing officials from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. The attack was likely driven by workplace grievances, according to the media.

Global Times