Four people have been killed and 10 wounded in a shooting at a child’s birthday party in California. The victims included both children and adults and early indications “suggest this may have been a targeted incident”, according to police.
The horrific incident happened in Stockton, California, at around 6pm local time on Saturday night at a banqueting hall which is understood to share a car park with other businesses. Police said the suspected shooter has not been caught and pleaded with the public for help. Detectives were still working to identify a possible motive.
Heather Brent, a spokesperson for the San Joaquin County sheriff’s office, told a press conference the event was “unfathomable”. She said: “This is a very active and ongoing investigation, and information remains limited.
“Early indications suggest this may be a targeted incident, and investigators are exploring all possibilities.”
San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas added: “If you have any information as to this individual, reach out immediately. If you are this individual, turn yourself in immediately.”
Stockton is a city of around 320,000 people in northern California around 40 miles south of Sacramento. Mayor Christina Fugazzi said: “Families should be together instead of at the hospital, standing next to their loved one, praying that they survive.”
Stockton’s vice mayor Jason Lee wrote on social media: “I am devastated and angry to learn about the mass shooting at a child’s birthday party.
“A birthday party should never be a place where families fear for their lives.”
Officials said several people have been taken to hospitals but their condition is not yet known.
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