A joyous children’s birthday celebration in Northern California turned into a scene of horrific violence on Saturday evening when a mass shooting erupted at a Stockton restaurant, leaving four people dead and ten others wounded. The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the tragedy occurred shortly before 6:00 PM local time at a family gathering that included both adults and children.
Law enforcement authorities reported that the suspected shooter remains at large following the targeted attack. While the investigation remains active and ongoing, preliminary evidence suggests the violence may not have been random. “Early indications suggest this may be a targeted incident, and investigators are exploring all possibilities,” stated official communications from the Sheriff’s Office.
Heather Brent, a spokesperson for the department, characterized the shooting as “unfathomable” in its brutality. Medical conditions of the injured victims have not been formally disclosed as authorities work to notify families and piece together the sequence of events that led to the tragedy.
The shooting prompted immediate responses from local and state officials. Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee expressed his devastation and anger on social media, emphasizing that “a birthday party should never be a place where families fear for their lives.” California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office confirmed he had been briefed on the “horrific shooting” and was closely monitoring developments.
This incident adds to California’s troubling history of gun violence, raising further concerns about public safety at community gatherings and the persistent challenge of firearm-related crimes in the United States.