Birthday Party “targeted” mass shooting

Post Reply New Topic

A shooter still on the loose killed at least four people when, authorities say, he or she opened fire Saturday night on a banquet hall in Stockton, California, during a birthday party.

Eleven more people were injured in what the local sheriff called a particularly callous and brutal crime.

"These animals walked in and shot children at a children's birthday party, and none of us should stand for that," Patrick Withrow, the sheriff of San Joaquin County said at a news conference Sunday.

Here's what we know about the shooting so far.

What happened?
At least 100 people were gathered at the birthday party, which was at a banquet hall on the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue in Stockton, when gunfire broke out shortly before 6 p.m.

The attack started inside the banquet hall and spilled out into the street. Multiple vehicles that appeared to have been hit by gunfire were towed as possible evidence.

Who are the victims?
There are 15 total victims of the shooting, four of whom were killed, including three minors.

Identities of the deceased have not yet been released; they are ages 8, 9, 14 and 21.

Eleven more people were hospitalized. At least one was in critical condition Sunday, and the 10 others' conditions were not available, Withrow said.

Who is the suspect?
Authorities are still searching for an unidentified person. Law enforcement officials have said they may be looking for multiple shooters.

Withrow said Sunday that "there appears to be multiple shooters," noting that shell casings and rounds found at the scene — including firearms discovered atop a roof — were still being processed for conclusive evidence.

It is not clear whether anyone returned fire.

Authorities are asking the public for help identifying and tracking down potential suspects. They have urged anyone with information about the attackers to reach out and are seeking video from Saturday night.

There is a $25,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest.

"Whoever did this: You don't need to see the light of day again," Fugazi said.

The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation. Heather Brent, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, said the FBI, Stockton police and other law enforcement agencies are assisting.

Also Saturday night, Stockton police arrested five people, one of them 16 years old, on weapons and gang allegations in the Civic District, which is about 7 miles south of where the shooting took place. When they arrived, police found two firearms.

Withrow said it is not clear whether those people have any connection to the birthday party shooting.

Is there a motive?
"We believed it was a targeted incident, a targeted shooting," Brent said.

"I have been told by individuals who were invited there were people there who had ties in the gang community," Fugazi said.

Fugazi added that officials believe the violence broke out "due to a beef between individuals. They wanted to send a message."

She told NBC News that gangs are a problem in the city and that at least 100 known gangs operate out of that area of California.

"Gang violence exists in cities across the country, but this act was a pure act of terrorism. A complete, cowardly Terrorist Act!" Fugazi said in a statement Sunday.

Withrow said Sunday that it is still too early to determine whether it was a result of gang violence.

He said authorities are "confident that this was not a random act."

"They walked into this area probably looking for someone in particular. This was not somebody who was unacquainted with them," he said of the attacker.