A joyous children’s birthday celebration in Stockton, California, turned into a scene of horrific violence on Saturday evening when gunfire erupted, leaving four people dead and ten others wounded. The shooting occurred approximately at 6:00 PM local time in a residential area near the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue.
According to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, approximately 14 individuals sustained gunshot wounds during the family gathering. Emergency responders confirmed four fatalities at the scene while attending to multiple casualties. The incident is being treated as an active and ongoing investigation with limited information released to the public.
Stockton’s Vice Mayor Jason Lee confirmed via social media that the violence disrupted a child’s birthday party. Lee stated he is maintaining direct communication with public safety officials to ascertain the precise circumstances surrounding the tragedy and has committed to pursuing comprehensive answers regarding the incident.
Law enforcement authorities indicated preliminary evidence suggests this may have been a targeted attack rather than a random act of violence. Investigators are currently exploring all possible motives and circumstances that led to the shooting. No details regarding potential suspects or the shooter have been disclosed as the investigation continues to develop.
The Stockton community, located in northern California’s Central Valley, has been shaken by this latest outbreak of gun violence, which represents one of the most severe shooting incidents the region has witnessed in recent years.