Law enforcement officials in California have issued a desperate plea for information as the manhunt continues for those responsible for a horrific shooting at a child's birthday party that left four people dead, including three children.
A Community in Mourning After Targeted Attack
The violence erupted on Saturday at a banquet hall in Stockton, a city located roughly 80 miles east of San Francisco. San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow confirmed that three children, aged 8, 9, and 14, and a 21-year-old man were killed when gunfire tore through a gathering of at least 100 people. The shooting did not stop inside, with detectives believing it continued outside the venue and that there may have been multiple shooters involved.
In addition to the fatalities, eleven other people were wounded, with at least one reported to be in a critical condition. By Sunday evening, no suspects were in custody directly linked to the massacre. Sheriff's spokesperson Heather Brent stated investigators believe this was a "targeted incident," though officials did not elaborate on a potential motive or intended target.
Heartbroken Families and a City's Anguish
The party was celebrating the second birthday of a young girl, who was unharmed. Roscoe Brown, an employee of Stockton's Office of Violence Prevention, learned of the shooting while in Arizona and rushed to the scene. He revealed that a niece and nephew of his were among those shot, and he knew several other victims. "Who would come and do that to some kids, you know?" Brown asked The Associated Press at a vigil for the victims. "You can’t shoot up a party. That’s senseless. A kid's party, at that."
One of the victims was identified by family as 21-year-old Susano Archuleta, who was shot in the neck and died at the scene. His brother, Emmanuel Lopez, told the Los Angeles Times that his own 9-year-old daughter was shot in the head but survived.
Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi expressed profound sorrow, noting the 8-year-old victim attended a local school and had a parent working for the Stockton Unified School District. "They should be writing their Christmas lists right now," Mayor Fugazi said on Sunday. "Their parents should be out shopping for them for Christmas. And to think that their lives are over. I can’t even begin to imagine what these families are going through. Breaks my heart." Counsellors will be made available in city schools this week.
Appeal for Witnesses in a City Grappling with Violence
Sheriff Withrow made a direct and emotional appeal to the community, urging anyone with information, cellphone video, or witness accounts to contact his office. "This is a time for our community to show that we will not put up with this type of behaviour, when people will just walk in and kill children," Withrow stated. "And so if you know anything about this, you have to come forward and tell us what you know. If not, you just become complacent and think this is acceptable behaviour." Authorities emphasised they would welcome any information, "even rumours."
This tragedy strikes a city already familiar with gun violence. Stockton, with a population of approximately 320,000, recorded 54 homicides in 2024, a rate significantly higher than the California average. City data shows there had been 34 homicides by October of this year.
In a separate development hours after the shooting, the Stockton Police Department arrested five individuals, including a juvenile, on weapons and gang-related charges. The sheriff confirmed there was no indication these arrests were connected to the banquet hall killings.
