A mother has spoken of her shock and loss after a gunman targeted her two-year-old daughter's birthday party in Stockton, California, killing three children and a young man.
A Celebration Shattered by Gunfire
Patrice Williams initially mistook the sound of gunshots for popping balloons as family members prepared to cut the cake. The celebration, held at a local banquet hall on Saturday, descended into chaos when at least one shooter opened fire inside the venue. More than 100 people were gathered for the party when the violence erupted.
In the aftermath, three children—aged eight, nine, and fourteen—and a 21-year-old man were pronounced dead. Eleven other people were shot and injured, with at least one victim reported to be in critical condition. Remarkably, the birthday girl was not physically hurt.
Community and Police Appeal for Information
San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow stated that detectives believe the incident was targeted and that the gunfire may have continued outside the hall, potentially involving multiple shooters. No arrests have been made, and the perpetrator or perpetrators remain at large.
In a desperate plea for leads, Sheriff's spokesperson Heather Brent urged the public to come forward with any information, "even rumours." Sheriff Withrow emphasised the community's duty to act, saying, "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."
A Mother's Anguish and a City in Mourning
Surrounded by family, a tearful Patrice Williams, whose sister, cousin, and three friends were among those shot, expressed her devastation. "They deserve to be in jail. They deserve to go to hell... It’s a kids' party," she said. Reflecting on the trauma, she suggested parents consider holding children's parties indoors due to the risk of violence.
The local community has begun to mourn. Carolyn Tahod, a Stockton resident unrelated to the victims, placed flowers at a growing makeshift memorial. "I have grandkids. I would be devastated if this were to happen in our family," she said. Roscoe Brown, who works for the city's Office of Violence Prevention and is related to the family, confirmed that a niece and nephew were among the wounded.
As the investigation continues, the city of Stockton is left grappling with a profound tragedy that has cut short young lives and shattered the sanctity of a family celebration.
