Authorities report that a gunman who has not yet been found killed at least four people during a Saturday evening attack at a Stockton, California, banquet hall where a birthday party was taking place. Eleven others were wounded in what local officials described as an exceptionally ruthless act.
San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow stated during a Sunday news briefing that the attackers opened fire on children attending the celebration. He condemned the incident as a heartless assault on the community.
Roughly one hundred attendees were inside the banquet hall on the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue when shots erupted just before 6 p.m. The gunfire began indoors and continued into the street. Several vehicles struck by bullets were removed from the scene as evidence.
In total, fifteen people were shot. Four victims, including three minors, died from their injuries. The deceased were aged 8, 9, 14 and 21, and their names have not yet been released. Eleven others were hospitalized, with at least one in critical condition as of Sunday.
A vigil held Sunday brought together faith leaders, relatives and community members who called for unity and future efforts to prevent similar tragedies. Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi emphasized that every resident deserves to live in safety.
The Stockton Unified School District announced that mental health support and counseling services would be made available at all district schools to assist affected students and families.
Investigators are still searching for those responsible. Officials indicated the possibility of multiple shooters based on shell casings and other evidence found at the site, including firearms recovered from a rooftop. It remains unclear whether anyone at the event returned fire.
Authorities urged the public to share any information or video footage from Saturday night. A reward of 25,000 dollars has been offered for tips leading to an arrest.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office is overseeing the investigation with assistance from the FBI, Stockton police and additional agencies. On the same night, Stockton police arrested five individuals, one of them a 16 year old, on weapons and gang related charges in the Civic District, several miles from the shooting location. It has not been determined whether these arrests are connected to the birthday party attack.
According to officials, early information suggests the incident may have been targeted. Some attendees reportedly had ties to gang activity, and authorities believe the violence may have stemmed from a personal conflict.
Mayor Fugazi noted that numerous gangs operate in the region and described the attack as an act meant to send a message. Sheriff Withrow added that investigators are confident the shooting was not random and that the perpetrators may have been looking for a specific individual.
California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed condolences to the victims' families and the Stockton community. Vice Mayor Jason Lee voiced outrage at the attack during a Sunday press conference, stating that harming children at a celebration defies basic humanity.
San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas pledged to dedicate all necessary resources to bring the perpetrators to justice. He reiterated that violence of this nature has no place in the community and that children must be protected from gun and gang related harm.
