Five Residents Become Victims, China Trusts Shooting At Half Moon Bay

A series of flowers of condolences were placed at the scene of the mass shooting at Half Moon Bay, North California. (Xinhua via ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Chinese government has confirmed that five of its citizens were killed in a mass shooting incident in Half Moon Bay, California, United States.

"We strongly condemn armed violence and would like to express our deep condolences to the victims and their families," the Chinese Consulate General said in San Francisco according to a release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (MFA) monitored in Beijing, Saturday, January 28.

Previously, MFA and the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco issued a warning to their citizens in the US regarding the bloody incident, which occurred on Monday, January 23 local time.

In a previous statement, China stated that it could not confirm the number of its citizens who were victims of the mass shooting at the fungal cultivation company in Half Moon Bay.

The Consulate has contacted the families of the victims and said they are willing to provide the necessary assistance.

The Consulate spokesman also stated that his party had coordinated with the US government to follow up on the investigation of the case.

Chinese media said that the suspected perpetrator, identified as Chunli Zhao (66 years), had been detained on charges of shooting dead four people at the cultivation site where he worked and three others near the company.

The incident at Half Moon Bay came 48 hours after mass shootings on the eve of Chinese New Year celebrations at a dance studio in Monterey Park, California, which also killed another Chinese.