As authorities continue to hunt for the killers involved in Saturday’s mass shooting, rewards for information in the case have grown to $130,000.
On Friday, Stockton’s Crime Stoppers announced it had increased its reward to $55,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the attack, which killed four people — three of them children. The offer includes $10,000 from Mayor Cristina Fugazi and $5,000 from City Councilmember Mariela Ponce.
Unlike some reward offers, Crime Stoppers noted that a conviction of the perpetrators was not required. The agency said the cash reward was payable upon the arrest of the suspect or suspects in this “unimaginable crime.”
Federal agencies are also providing rewards in an effort to draw out information from the public.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced Friday is was offering a reward of up to $20,000. ATF is one of several outside agencies working with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office on the investigation.
Earlier in the week, the FBI said it was offering a reward of up to $50,000.
Both federal agencies say investigators are requesting any tips that will lead to the identification, arrest and conviction of those involved in the shooting, including information about vehicles, weapons or planning activity connected to the attack.
Monetary rewards are also coming from national outlets. The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, a Texas-based nonprofit created after a shooting at a Uvalde elementary school in 2022 and dedicated to youth advocacy and violence prevention, has offered a reward of up to $5,000.
The organization has also launched a fundraising campaign for the victims’ families, with money going toward trauma counseling, medical care and long-term recovery, said Daniel Chapin, the group’s founder, which previously was called the Uvalde Foundation for Kids.
The efforts are amid a backdrop of repeated appeals from the Sheriff’s Office for any clues that might lead to the capture of those involved in the attack, which was described as “targeted.”
“We still need the public’s help on this,” Sheriff Patrick Withrow said a day after the mass shooting. “This is a time for our community to show that we will not put up with this.”
Sheriff’s officials believe multiple shooters were involved in the attack at a 2-year-old’s birthday party, although they have not revealed a motive in the attack.
Withrow said he could not confirm reports that the shooting was gang-related. But according to court records filed in the arrests of two men who were at the party, the event included “several gang members” among the scores of guests.
Officers arrested the father and uncle of the 2-year-old in the wake of the attack on charges unrelated to the assault itself. But parole officers allege the two were consorting with gang members.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help, hoping that if someone saw something, they will say something. They are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call the department’s non-emergency line at (209) 468-4400.
Crime Stoppers, the FBI and ATF all have hot lines for tips as well. Callers can provide information anonymously to Stockton’s Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600. The FBI is accepting information via an online portal. And the ATF has a dedicated toll-free tip line at 1-888-283-8477 (ATF TIPS).
“We know that justice takes time, and we want this to be done correctly — and we have the team in place that is necessary to get justice for the victims,” San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas said.
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