Shooting at child’s birthday party in Stockton kills 4, injures 11; shooter remains at large

MGN

Four people were killed, and 11 others were wounded in a shooting during a child’s birthday party in the Northern California city of Stockton Saturday night, authorities said. The suspect, or possibly suspects, remains at large.

Heather Brent, a spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, told reporters in a briefing that the shooting occurred around 6 p.m. Pacific Time at a banquet hall along the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue. On Sunday, Brent confirmed three children were among the four people killed. The victims were 8, 9, 14 and 21 years old.

“These animals walked in and shot children at a children’s birthday party,” San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said in a news conference Sunday. “None of us should stand for that.”

Brent said 15 people were shot. Officials had initially reported there were 14 victims. Withrow said at least one person was in critical condition. The latest condition of the other victims is not known.

Brent added that when the shooting started, there were between 100 and 150 people at the event. Withrow said investigators believe there were multiple shooters, with it appearing that the shooting began inside the building and moved outside.

“[A] birthday party should never be a place where families fear for their lives,” Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee wrote in a social media post.

No arrests have been made, Withrow said. There were no immediate details about the suspect or a possible motive, though Brent said early indications suggest it was targeted. The circumstances that led up to the shooting were unclear.

“And let us call this what it is,” Mayor Christina Fugazi said in a Facebook post Sunday. “Gang violence exists in cities across the country, but this act was a pure act of terrorism. A complete, cowardly Terrorist Act!”

Withrow would not confirm whether the shooting was gang-related, saying the investigation is in the early stages.

“We’re going to say we’re confident that this was not a random act,” Withrow said. “They walked into this area and was probably looking for somebody in particular. Why they did that, what they’re part of, who they are — we don’t know.”

Withrow said multiple vehicles with bullet holes were towed from the scene to be processed as evidence. He added that several firearms were found on the roof of the building, but could not confirm if they were connected to the shooting.

On Sunday, Fugazi said she would be matching Crimestoppers’ $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved, and that Councilwoman Mariela Ponce would be contributing $5,000, for a total of $25,000.

“Let me be very clear to anyone who hides, shields, or harbors these terrorists. You are putting yourself at risk of having your door kicked in, your home raided, and being arrested for aiding and abetting. If you protect them, you become part of this. And you will face the consequences,” Fugazi said.

Nonprofit Youth Peace & Justice Foundation also said it is offering a “reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads directly to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) responsible for the shooting.”

The office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a social media post that Newsom had been briefed on the shooting.

“We are urging anyone with information, video footage, or who may have witnessed any part of this incident to contact the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office immediately,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

Investigators were at the scene through Sunday afternoon.