STORY: Marciano Martinez took so much pride in his work, he'd often share pictures of the latest crop. Mushrooms, he'd say, were beautiful. The farm manager worked six days a week, and rarely took time off for holidays.
So when shots rang out across the Half Moon Bay mushroom plantations on Monday, Alicia Ortega knew he had to be there.
Martinez was among seven people killed in a mass shooting carried out by a fellow immigrant mushroom farm worker.
"Martin was a wonderful person. He was sweet. He cares about everyone around him. Everyone loved him."
A fan of romantic Mexican bands, who played accordion at church and parties.
The 50-year old migrant from Mexico was like family to Ortega and her husband.Before he died in 2020, Ortega's husband asked Martinez to look after her when he was gone.
Ortega is one of many left grieving after a spate of mass shootings across California killed 18 people in just 72 hours.
Chunli Zhao, a 66-year-old immigrant farm worker, was formally charged with premeditated murder on Wednesday in the shooting at Half Moon Bay.
"That guy, he doesn't know what he did. Not only to me. To so many people. He doesn't know what he did. Really. He really turned my life around."
Ortega says she feels lost without her friend, and is left with one burning question for the killer...
"The only question I have -- what is in your mind to do something like that? Just taking a great person from this world."
