Workers at the pair of Half Moon Bay, California, mushroom farms that saw back-to-back mass shootings two weeks ago have returned to their jobs, according to reports.
The news comes as state officials have vowed to investigate labor and safety practices in both farms, which drew attention after the alleged mass shooter, 66-year-old Chunli Zhao, claimed years of mistreatment and grueling work hours.
Workers at Concord Farms — the site of the second shooting, where three people were killed — returned less than a week after the deadly incident.
One employee who spoke with AP News said they needed to earn a living and find solace with others going through the same trauma.
“We all feel like we need each other; we feel like the people at the farm are the ones who really understand you right now,” said the worker, who referred to two of the victims — an elderly couple — in Spanish as “grandma” and “grandpa.”
Concord Farms, located on Cabrillo Highway South, employed about 15 people, the worker said. She described the farm as “a really joyous place,” with workers treating each other like family.
However, another employee who has worked in Half Moon Bay farms for the past decade told AP News that their heavy workload barely paid for their living expenses. The worker claimed to make $16 an hour and pay $1,300 for a room for his family of four in a four-bedroom home that they share with eight others.
California Terra Garden, formerly known as Mountain Mushroom Farm — the site of the first shooting, where four people were killed — was fully staffed by Feb. 1.
David Oates, a company representative, told the Los Angeles Times that “the employees wanted to go back to work” and disputed claims that they were forced to return.
Zhao, the alleged gunman, most recently worked at said farm. Authorities believe he carried out the shooting after being asked to pay a $100 repair bill, but no motive has been officially confirmed.
In the aftermath of…
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