STOCKTON, CA — Authorities in California urged witnesses to a fatal shooting at a child’s birthday party to come forward as the search for the suspect continues into another day.
Three children ages 8, 9 and 14 and a 21-year-old were killed Saturday when gunfire erupted at a Stockton ballroom where at least 100 people had gathered, San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said. Investigators believe the shooting continued outside and there may have been multiple shooters.
He added that 11 people were also injured, at least one of whom was in critical condition. No one was in custody as of Sunday evening, and the sheriff urged anyone with information to contact his office with tips, cellphone videos or witness accounts.
“This is the time for our community to show that we are not going to tolerate this kind of behavior, when people come in and kill children,” Withrow said. “So, if you know anything about this, you should come forward and tell us what you know. If not, then you get complacent and think this is acceptable behavior.”
Sheriff’s spokeswoman Heather Brent previously said investigators believe it was a “targeted incident.” Officials did not explain why authorities believe it was intentional or who might have been targeted. She said investigators would welcome any information, “even rumours.”
Roscoe Brown said the party was in honor of his grandniece, who just turned 2 and was unharmed. Brown, who works for the City of Stockton’s Violence Prevention Office, was in Arizona when he learned of the shooting and went directly to the scene. He said his niece and nephew were shot, and that he knew several other victims. He had no information about their conditions.
“Who’s going to come and do that to some kids, you know?” Brown told The Associated Press following a vigil organized by religious leaders to honor the dead and pray for the wounded. “You can’t have a party. That doesn’t make sense. A kids’ party at that.”
Emmanuel Lopez said Los Angeles Times His brother, 21-year-old Susano Archuleta, was shot in the neck and died at the scene. Lopez said his 9-year-old daughter was shot in the head but survived. He did not share details about what led to the shooting.
Stockton is a city of 320,000 located about 80 miles (130 kilometers) east of San Francisco. With 54 homicides in 2024, Stockton’s homicide rate was well above the state average. As of October, there were 34 cases this year, according to city data.
Hours after the shooting, the Stockton Police Department arrested five people, including a juvenile, on weapons and gang-related charges. The sheriff said there was no indication that the arrests were related to the killings in the banquet hall.
The 8-year-old victim attended a local school and one of her parents worked in the Stockton Unified School District, Mayor Christina Fugazi told reporters. The mayor said counselors will be available this week in city schools.
She expressed her sadness at the loss of so young victims.
“They should be writing their Christmas lists right now. Their parents should be out shopping for Christmas for them. And to think their lives are over. I can’t even imagine what these families are going through. My heart is breaking,” Fugazi said Sunday.
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Weber reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writer Ed White in Detroit contributed to this report.