On the evening of Saturday, November 29th, a mass shooting occurred in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California, resulting in the deaths of four individuals aged 8, 9, 14, and 21, and injuring 11 others. The incident took place during a family party for a 2-year-old child, with approximately 100-150 people in attendance.
The authorities have not disclosed the identities of the victims and guests. Sheriff Patrick Withrow of San Joaquin County mentioned that there might have been multiple shooters, with the gunfire starting inside the banquet hall and extending to the outside parking lot. However, no conclusions have been drawn yet. Additionally, firearms were found on the roof of the banquet hall.
Police spokesperson Heather Brent stated that based on preliminary investigations, this appears to be a “premeditated attack.”
According to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, around 6 p.m. on the 29th, the local dispatch center received several 911 calls reporting a shooting at the intersection of Lucile Ave and Thornton Road in the northern part of Stockton. The area consists of small businesses and residential neighborhoods.
The shooting occurred around 1943 Lucile Ave at a venue called “Monkey Space” which was previously known as the Kudos Children’s Theatre but changed ownership due to insufficient funds.
Mayor Christina Fugazi, in an interview, mentioned that the shooting happened at multiple locations. She urged the community, “Whoever committed this crime, if you know them… please call the crime reporting hotline. You can provide information anonymously, and we have a lot of work to do.” She emphasized that “our city should be better than this.”
Authorities are urging individuals with information, especially those with videos or eyewitness accounts, to contact the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency hotline at (209) 468-4400, or Stockton Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600.
Sheriff Withrow referred to the perpetrator as a “beast.” He stated, “If you have witnessed anything, or have recorded any videos, even if you think it’s insignificant, please contact us. We would rather receive calls unrelated to the case than miss any information that we absolutely need to know.”
Stockton is located about 45 miles south of Sacramento, the state capital, and east of San Francisco, with a population of over 320,000 residents, making it the most populous city in the county. It was named the “All-American City” in 2017 and 2018. On Sunday, the local community organized a prayer event near the shooting site under the organization “Faith in the Valley.”