At least four people were killed and ten others injured when a child’s birthday celebration in Stockton, California, turned into a mass shooting on Saturday evening. Police say the gunman opened fire inside a restaurant shortly before six in the evening and escaped before officers arrived.
The shooting happened in the northern part of the state, drawing a large response from local police, sheriff’s units and emergency crews. Authorities said both children and adults were among the victims, though medical teams were still working late into the night to establish the conditions of the injured.
The San Joaquin County sheriff’s office said early evidence suggests the attack may have been directed at someone specific at the gathering. Investigators have not confirmed a motive, but detectives are now analysing witness statements, reviewing security footage and mapping out the sequence of events.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Heather Brent called the shooting “unfathomable” and urged residents to give investigators time to sort through the large volume of information. “This is a very active and ongoing investigation, and information remains limited,” the office said in a written update.
Authorities have not released descriptions of the suspect or vehicle, and they have not announced any arrests. The sheriff’s office said additional details will be shared once the facts are verified.
The shooting drew immediate reactions from city officials. Stockton’s vice mayor, Jason Lee, said he was “devastated and angry” that a family event had turned into a deadly attack.
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“A birthday party should never be a place where families fear for their lives,” he wrote on social media, adding that the community was tired of repeated outbreaks of gun violence.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said it was monitoring the situation and would support local authorities if requested, according to local media.
Detectives are now pursuing multiple leads. They are interviewing partygoers, restaurant staff and neighbours who reported hearing gunfire. Police have also contacted nearby hospitals in case the attacker or a potential accomplice sought treatment for injuries.
Officials said they are keeping all possibilities open, including whether the shooting was linked to a dispute, gang-related conflict or a personal grudge. Investigators stressed, however, that no evidence has been finalised.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that the restaurant has handed over video captured by interior and exterior cameras. Officers remained at the scene for hours marking bullet casings, photographing evidence and reconstructing the layout of the party.
California has some of the strictest firearm regulations in the country, yet still records some of the highest numbers of mass shooting incidents, according to data collected by the Associated Press and state law enforcement. Stockton itself has seen several high-profile shootings in the past decade, prompting calls for more community-led interventions and better mental-health support.
Nationally, the United States has logged hundreds of mass shootings so far this year as defined by the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks incidents involving four or more victims excluding the shooter.
Communities across the country have struggled with similar scenes: family events, workplace gatherings and public spaces suddenly interrupted by gunfire. Public safety experts say these moments have lasting effects on survivors, relatives and entire neighbourhoods.
