Four people — three of them children — were killed Saturday evening in a shooting at a business in north Stockton where a family was hosting a celebration, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff’s officials said the shooting occurred shortly before 6 p.m. in the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue. At least 15 people were shot in the attack, and sheriff’s officials said multiple people were taken to local hospitals.
Authorities said the shooting occurred at a banquet hall near a Dairy Queen. The area is in a neighborhood north of Hammer Lane. Sheriff’s spokesperson Heather Brent said it appeared to be a “targeted incident.”
“There was a banquet hall where a family was celebrating,” Brent said.
Authorities have not released the name of the banquet hall, but a business matching the location of the shooting recently opened at 1943 Lucile Ave. The venue, called Monkey Space, is the former home to Kudos Children’s Theatre, which closed late last year.
Initial reports indicated 14 people had been shot in the attack, four of whom died. But on Sunday, Brent said the number of those struck by gunfire was 15.
During a briefing Saturday night, Mayor Christina Fugazi and District Attorney Ron Freitas said children were among the victims. Brent said at the time the victims “range from juvenile to adult.” On Sunday, the sheriff’s spokesperson said the ages of those killed in the shooting were 8, 9, 14 and 21.
“Tragedy of this nature is unthinkable,” Freitas told reporters at the scene. “Violence of this nature has absolutely no place at any time, shape or form — and children should not be harmed by gun and gang violence.”
Brent could not say whether authorities believed there was more than one shooter, or whether a weapon had been found at the scene. No information about a suspect or suspects in the shooting was provided, and detectives have not yet determined a possible motive.
Officials urged anyone with information about the mass shooting to call the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office’s non-emergency line at (209) 468-4400.
Fugazi echoed the sheriff’s plea for help, noting the public can also call Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600.
“Stockton is better than this,” she said, adding that on Thanksgiving weekend, “families should be together instead of at the hospital standing next to their loved one, praying that they survive.”
Brent said outside law enforcement agencies are assisting the Sheriff’s Office, including the Stockton and Manteca police departments and the FBI.
Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee, said in an online post that he was “devastated and angry” to learn about the attack, which he described as occurring at a child’s birthday party. “We don’t deserve this,” Lee said. “And we will not accept this as our norm.”
Stockton Councilmember Michele Padilla, whose district adjoins where the shooting occurred, said from the scene, “I just have a heavy heart. … (This) affects our whole city.”
Because the victims included children, some social media posters were calling for schools to be closed after the shooting. The Stockton Unified School District did not announce any school closures for the coming week, but did post a message online, saying, “In moments like these, may we stand together in strength, compassion, and support as our community begins to heal.”
Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, D-Tracy, said in a statement after the shooting that she was “heartbroken by the violence and tragedy in Stockton and the senseless loss of life that has resulted from this.”
U.S. Rep. Josh Harder also took to social media Saturday night. “I’m devastated at news of a mass shooting in Stockton, and Pam and I are praying for the victims and their families,” he said in a post on X.
Gov. Gavin Newsom was briefed on the “horrific shooting” in Stockton, his press office said in a social media post Saturday night. “The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is monitoring this evolving situation and coordinating with local law enforcement.”
The district attorney said his office’s investigation unit, chief of homicide and victim witness advocates are also assisting in the case.
“When this individual is caught, you have my promise that you will have the full force of my office’s resources in holding this individual fully accountable,” Freitas said.
Former Mayor Michael Tubbs called the mass shooting an “atrocity” and said there is much work left to do to reduce gun violence.
“Stockton residents deserve to live in a safe city and young people deserve to believe that they can reach adulthood,” Tubbs said in a post on Facebook. As we pray and mourn, we have to be clear that change just won’t happen. It’ll take work, truth, accountability, and belief that things can be better. Gun violence is preventable.”