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By Adeola Adeosun, Daniel Orton, and Marni Rose McFall
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Children were among those reported dead after a mass shooting at a child's birthday party on Saturday, according to local officials
Four people were killed and 10 wounded at the event in Stockton, California, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said in a statement shared on X, in what a spokesperson said might have been a "targeted incident."
Newsweek reached out to the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office via online form and Stockton Police Department via email on Saturday for comment.
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The Context
The deadly incident in California comes amid concerns over gun violence and mass shootings in the United States, and tensions in the country are continuing to run high.
California has some of the strictest firearm laws in the country. These have at times, been challenged, with a federal judge overturning the state’s ban on assault weapons, like the AR-15 rifle.
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What To Know
The shooting took place just before 6 p.m. inside a banquet hall, which shares a parking lot with several nearby businesses near the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue. Stockton is a city of roughly 320,000 residents, located about 40 miles south of Sacramento.
The suspected shooter remained at large as of Sunday morning, and local officials urged anyone with information to come forward. Detectives were still working to determine a motive.
“If you have any information as to this individual, reach out immediately. If you are this individual, turn yourself in immediately,” San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas said.
"It absolutely breaks out heart to have loss of life, and to have loss of life to children," he told reporters.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the shooting as state officials monitor the situation, according to a statement on X from his press office.
What People Are Saying
Jason Lee, Stockton’s vice mayor, in a statement on Facebook: "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.”
Stockton’s Mayor Christina Fugazi said in a statement: “Families should be together instead of at the hospital, standing next to their loved one, praying that they survive.”
What’s Next
Authorities have released limited information as the investigation continues, with no details provided about potential suspects or what led to the shooting.
This is a developing news story. Updates to follow.
This article contains reporting by The Associated Press.
Update 11/29/25, 11:33 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 11/29/25, 11:49 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update, 11/30/2025, 2:28 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information and public statements. The headline was also updated.
Update, 11/30/2025, 5:38 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information and public statements.
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