Key Takeaways
- A mass shooting occurred at a 2-year-old’s birthday party in Stockton, California, leaving four people dead, including three children.
- The victims included three kids aged 8, 9, and 14, as well as a 21-year-old.
- Eleven others were injured, with at least one in critical condition.
- Authorities believe the shooting was targeted, but the motive is still unclear.
- The police are investigating and have called on the public for help in identifying potential suspects.
Introduction to the Tragedy
The cake for a 2-year-old birthday girl was about to be cut when gunfire rang out in a banquet hall in Stockton, California, Saturday night, claiming the lives of four people, including three children. The sound of gunshots was initially mistaken for popping balloons by the mother of the birthday girl, Patrice Williams. However, the reality of the situation soon became clear, and partygoers nearby dropped to the ground, calling the moment "unexpected." Williams, who was uninjured, expressed her shock and loss, stating that she and her family were celebrating her daughter’s second birthday over the weekend when the mass shooting occurred.
The Aftermath of the Shooting
The shooting resulted in the deaths of three kids aged 8, 9, and 14, as well as a 21-year-old, Patrick Withrow, the sheriff of San Joaquin County said. Eleven others were injured at the gathering of at least 100 people when gunshots rang out shortly before 6 p.m. At least one of the injured was in critical condition Sunday, Withrow said. The conditions of the other 10 have not been made available. The shooting appeared to begin inside the banquet hall before spilling onto the streets, with authorities stating that it remains unclear whether anyone returned fire.
Investigation and Suspects
A suspect has yet to be identified, and Withrow said Sunday that "there appears to be multiple shooters." The police are investigating and have called on the public for help in identifying potential suspects. Authorities have said that the shooting appeared to be targeted, but the motive is still unclear. Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi has said gang violence is suspected as a motive, but Withrow said Sunday it was too early to determine if the shooting was a result of gang violence. He did say that authorities are "confident that this was not a random act." Williams told the AP that she did not get a good look at the shooter and does not know who would commit such violence at her child’s party.
Response from the Community
The community has been left shocked and saddened by the tragedy, with many expressing their outrage and grief. Roscoe Brown, who told the AP the party was for his brother’s granddaughter, said his niece and nephews were shot, and that he knows several other victims. He did not have information about their conditions. Brown works for the city of Stockton’s Office of Violence Prevention and did not respond to a request for comment sent by NBC News on Monday. "Who would come and do that to some kids, you know?" Brown told the AP after a Sunday afternoon vigil, "You can’t shoot up a party. That’s senseless. A kid’s party, at that." The community has come together to hold vigils and support the families of the victims, with many calling for an end to violence and a need for change.
Call to Action
The police are urging anyone with information about Saturday night’s attack to reach out and help identify potential suspects. While authorities have not released the names of the victims, family members have begun to identify their own online. Fugazi told reporters that the 8-year-old victim attended a local school and had a parent who worked for the Stockton Unified School District, but did not name the victim, the AP reported. The community is coming together to support the families of the victims and to call for an end to violence. As the investigation continues, the community remains in shock and mourning, remembering the lives lost and the families affected by this senseless tragedy.
