Pedro Romero Perez, a migrant farmworker, has filed a lawsuit against California Terra Gardens for failing to keep him safe from a colleague who committed a mass shooting at the mushroom farm. The shooting occurred in January 2023 and resulted in the death of Romero Perez’s brother and injuries to himself. The shooter, Chunli Zhao, also killed three other colleagues at the farm before driving to another mushroom farm to shoot three former co-workers. Zhao pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment in February.
The lawsuits filed by Romero Perez and his brother’s family against California Terra Garden, Inc. and one of its owners, Xianmin Guan, claim that the company failed to protect its workers despite a documented history of violence at the farm. The complaints allege that the company knew of Zhao’s violent past, including a previous incident in which he threatened a roommate with a knife. Furthermore, Zhao told investigators that he slept with a loaded gun under his pillow for two years.
The shootings at the farm brought attention to the substandard housing conditions provided to the workers by the farm. San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller visited the housing at California Terra Garden and described it as “deplorable” and “heartbreaking.” Photos shared on social media showed workers living in shipping containers and sheds with inadequate living conditions. Romero Perez, who migrated from Mexico to work at the farm, experienced injuries during the shooting and has been unable to work since. His family in Mexico is also struggling to cope with the aftermath of the incident.
The lawsuit highlights the responsibility of landlords to protect their tenants from criminal acts on their property. The complaints assert that California Terra Gardens failed to take action to ensure the safety of its workers, despite knowing about Zhao’s violent tendencies. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of migrant farmworkers and the conditions in which they live and work. Romero Perez continues to heal from his injuries and hopes to seek justice through the legal process.
The calls for better protection and improved living conditions for migrant workers in the agricultural industry have been amplified by this tragic event. The lawsuit against California Terra Gardens serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of all workers, regardless of their status. As the legal proceedings progress, the case will shed light on the systemic issues within the industry that need to be addressed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
