On the 29th of last month (local time) at a banquet hall in Stockton, California, USA, a shooting incident occurred during a children's birthday party, killing 4 people, including children ages 8 and 9, and injuring 11 others.
On the same day, around 6:00 p.m., gunfire suddenly rang out at the birthday party where about 100 family members and relatives gathered. People scattered screaming, and the screams of parents looking for their children continued. Of the 4 dead, 2 were children aged 8 and 9, and the 11 injured included a 9-year-old girl with a gunshot wound to the head. San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Heather Brent said, “It's heartbreaking that this happened at a child's birthday party.”
Sheriff Patrick Widrow raised the possibility of a premeditated targeted crime, saying, “It appears that the culprits were aimed at a specific person rather than an indiscriminate offense.” The sheriff's office believes there may be several suspects and is expanding the investigation. To date, no suspects have been arrested, and gang involvement has been raised online. Local prosecutor Ron Freitas warned “surrender immediately now.”
Mayor Christina Pugazi expressed her condolences, saying, “Thinking about the victims who suddenly passed away on Thanksgiving weekend only makes me sad.” Investigative authorities are requesting reports from residents. Stockton, where the incident occurred, is a city with a population of 320,000 people located 65 km south of Sacramento.
