FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: Monday, January 22, 2024
TO: Media Members
FROM: Stephen M. Wagstaffe
SUBJECT: Grand Jury Indictment – People v. Chunli Zhao
On Friday afternoon, January 19, 2024 the San Mateo County Criminal Grand Jury, after hearing several days of evidence, returned an Indictment charging defendant Chunli Zhao with seven counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted first degree murder for the January 23, 2023 fatal shooting of seven co-workers and one attempted murder of a co-worker in Half Moon Bay. The defendant Chunli Zhao is also charged with the special circumstance allegation of multiple murder. These are the same charges alleged in the felony complaint filed on January 25, 2023.
The case filed on January 25, 2023, Superior Court Case #23-SF-001584-A, was set for preliminary hearing on March 18, 2024 9:00. The Grand Jury Indictment for the same crimes supersedes the felony complaint and renders the preliminary hearing unnecessary.
Defendant Chunli Zhao was arrested on the charges in the Grand Jury Indictment this afternoon, and he will be arraigned on the Indictment on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 8:45 in the San Mateo County Superior Court, Dept. 26, Criminal Presiding Judge Sean P. Dabel. The Superior Court Case Number for the Grand Jury Indictment is 24-SF-001300-A.
Please direct any questions regarding People v. Chunli Zhao 24-SF-00100-A to District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe (650) 363-4752 or to Chief Deputy District Attorney Sean Gallagher (650) 363-4075.