Four people were killed and 11 others were wounded during a shooting at a child’s birthday party in Stockton on Saturday night, authorities said. The suspect — or possibly suspects — remains at large.
Heather Brent, spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, told reporters that the shooting happened around 6 p.m. Pacific Time at a banquet hall along the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue. On Sunday, Brent confirmed that three children were among the victims 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 Sunday. “None of us should stand for that.”
Brent said 15 people were shot. Officials had initially reported 14 victims. Withrow said at least one person was in critical condition, and the conditions of the other victims remain unknown.
Brent added that between 100 and 150 people attended the event when the shooting began. Withrow said investigators believe multiple shooters were involved, and it appears the shooting started inside the building and continued 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.
Withrow said no arrests have been made. Authorities have not released details about the suspect or motive, though Brent said early indications suggest the shooting was targeted. The circumstances leading up to the attack remain 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 did not confirm whether the shooting was gang-related, saying the investigation remains in its 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 investigators towed multiple vehicles with bullet holes from the scene for processing. He added that several firearms were found on the building’s roof, though he could not confirm if they were linked to the shooting.
On Sunday, Fugazi said she would match Crimestoppers’ $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. She said Councilwoman Mariela Ponce would add $5,000, bringing the total reward to $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.
The nonprofit Youth Peace & Justice Foundation also offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
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.
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