Four people, including three children, were killed and 11 others wounded when gunmen opened fire at a child’s birthday party at a banquet hall in Stockton, California, on Saturday evening, in what investigators describe as a likely targeted mass shooting. The victims — ages 8, 9, 14 and 21 — were among roughly 100 to 150 relatives and friends gathered for the celebration when the gunfire erupted shortly before 6 p.m. local time, authorities said.
Shooting at child’s birthday
The attack unfolded at a rented banquet hall on the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue, a mixed-use area in the northern California city of Stockton, about 80 kilometers south of Sacramento. Sheriff’s officials say multiple shooters entered the building during the party and began firing, with the violence spilling into the parking lot as guests ran for cover. In total, at least 15 people were shot, four fatally, before the assailants fled; first responders rushed the wounded to local hospitals as detectives began securing the large crime scene.
Children among the dead
Authorities confirmed that three of the four people killed were children celebrating the holiday weekend with family. The victims have been described only by age so far: an 8‑year‑old, a 9‑year‑old, a 14‑year‑old teenager and a 21‑year‑old adult, all of whom died from gunshot wounds sustained at the scene. At least one of the surviving victims remained in critical condition on Sunday, while others were being treated for a range of injuries as hospital staff and crisis counselors supported traumatized relatives.
Manhunt and investigation
No arrests had been announced as of Sunday, and investigators say they are pursuing leads on what they believe were multiple shooters who specifically targeted the gathering. The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, working with Stockton police and federal partners, is reviewing surveillance footage, processing ballistic evidence and appealing for witnesses or video from anyone who was near the banquet hall at the time. Detectives have not publicly confirmed a motive and have cautioned that it is too early to say whether the violence was linked to gang activity or another dispute.
Community grief and national backdrop
Local faith leaders and community groups quickly organized a vigil to honor the dead children and the young adult victim, drawing mourners who lit candles and demanded answers about how a family party became the scene of mass gunfire. Stockton officials have condemned the shooting and urged residents to cooperate with law enforcement, stressing that families should not have to fear for their lives while gathering for birthdays on a holiday weekend. The attack adds to a year already scarred by gun violence in the United States, where data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive show hundreds of mass shootings in 2025 alone, underscoring growing concern over firearms as a public safety crisis.
