Tragedy at a Children's Party
A joyous children's birthday party in Stockton, California, turned into a scene of horror after a mass shooting left four people dead, including three children. The attack, which occurred on Saturday, also left 11 other individuals wounded by gunfire.
Police were called to a banquet hall on Lucile Avenue just before 6pm local time (2am UK time) following reports of the shooting. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office confirmed that approximately 14 people were struck by gunfire.
Community and Official Response
Stockton's vice mayor, Jason Lee, took to Facebook to confirm the devastating context, stating the shooting happened at a child's birthday party. Mayor Christina Fugazzi expressed the community's anguish, saying, "families should be together instead of at the hospital, standing next to their loved one, praying that they survive."
District attorney Ron Freitas confirmed that children were among the deceased. California governor Gavin Newsom's office added that he had been briefed on the "horrific shooting."
Investigation Underway as Attacker Remains at Large
Authorities have stated that the attacker is still at large. The Sheriff's Office indicated on social media platform X that early evidence suggests this could have been a "targeted incident," though the specific motive and the identity of the perpetrator remain unclear.
The city of Stockton, located about 60 miles east of San Francisco, is now left grieving as police continue their search for the individual responsible for this devastating attack on a family celebration.
