3 Children Among 4 People Killed in Mass Shooting at Kids’ Birthday Party in California, Police Confirm

Three children were among the four people killed during a mass shooting at a child’s birthday party in California over the weekend, authorities said.

On Saturday, Nov. 29, shortly before 6 p.m. local time, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a shooting “that occurred near the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue in Stockton,” according to a Facebook post from the department.

Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee said on Facebook that the incident happened during a kids’ birthday party.

San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Heather Brent previously said that the tragedy took place in a banquet hall “where a family was celebrating,” according to a clip shared by ABC10.

In a further update shared on Facebook on Sunday, Nov. 30, the sheriff’s office said the four people killed were 8, 9, 14, and 21 years old.

“It is now confirmed that a total of 15 individuals sustained gunshot wounds during the incident,” the post stated.

The sheriff’s office added, “This is still a very active and ongoing investigation, and information continues to develop. Early indications suggest this may have been a targeted incident, and investigators are exploring all possibilities.”

“We are grateful for the information that has already been coming in from the community, and we ask that it continue. With the tips, video, and witness accounts provided so far, detectives are actively working on suspect descriptions and moving toward identifying and locating the individuals responsible for this horrific act,” the post continued.

Paying tribute to the victims, the sheriff’s office wrote, “Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this devastating violence,” while urging anyone with information or video that could assist the investigation to come forward.

“Community cooperation remains critical as we work toward justice for the victims and their loved ones,” authorities said, also thanking the police departments and agencies that have assisted so far.

A 9-year-old was among the 11 people injured in the shooting, ABC News reported, citing a Dignity Health–St. Joseph Medical Center spokesperson in Stockton. The child was in fair condition on Sunday afternoon, the spokesperson said.

Another victim was in critical condition as of Sunday night, Sheriff Patrick Withrow of the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said, per the outlet.

Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee was among those reacting publicly to the tragedy on Saturday night, writing, “Tonight, my heart is heavy in a way that’s hard to put into words. As Vice Mayor of Stockton — and as someone who grew up in this community — I am devastated and angry to learn about the mass shooting at a child’s birthday party. A birthday party should never be a place where families fear for their lives.”

“Violence touched my life as a young person, and seeing our own children, parents, and neighbors go through this shakes me deeply. Stockton is my home. These are our families. This is our community [sic],” he added.

Lee continued, “I am in contact with staff and public safety officials to understand exactly what happened, and I will be pushing for answers. Our community deserves to know the truth, and the families impacted deserve justice and every resource available to support them.”

“Tonight, I’m sending my thoughts, prayers, and love to the families who are hurting, to the children who witnessed this trauma, and to everyone across our city who feels this pain. Please God, uplift our community. We don’t deserve this. And we will not accept this as our norm,” he wrote.

Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi added in an Instagram post on Sunday, “I could not sleep last night. I lay there in disbelief about what these families, these children, and our entire community went through. The trauma they are living with is unimaginable.”

“Children who saw things no child should ever see. Loved ones standing there, watching someone they care about murdered in cold blood right in front of them. These are wounds that will likely never heal, let alone quickly. This is trauma that will follow these kids and these families for the rest of their lives,” she wrote.

Her post also noted, “Crimestoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved. I am matching that with another $10,000, and with a $5,000 contribution from Councilwoman Mariela Ponce. The total bounty now stands at $25,000.”

San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Heather Brent, Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee, Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi and a spokesperson for Dignity Health–St. Joseph Medical Center did not immediately respond to requests for additional information.