Police are searching for the suspect who killed four people, including three children, and injured 11 in a shooting at a family gathering in Stockton, California, on Saturday night – and they are appealing to the public for any tips people may have.
“If you have surveillance footage, if you’re a local business here, if you’re in the area, live in the area, or maybe you’ve heard rumors – please contact the sheriff’s office,” said Heather Brent, a spokesperson for the San Joaquin county sheriff’s office.
Investigators have said they believe the shooting was a targeted incident at a banquet hall where at least 100 people had gathered for a birthday celebration on Saturday night, Brent said. She did not elaborate on why authorities believe it was intentional or who might have been targeted.
The victims who died were ages eight, nine, 14 and 21, and were taken to local hospitals, said Brent.
“Finding the person or persons who committed this crime is the No 1 priority,” Brent said.
“I am confident … that we will find these animals that did this and bring them to justice,” said Patrick Withrow, the San Joaquin county sheriff, in a news conference late on Sunday. Officers are searching for several suspects. “From what we’ve gathered so far, there appears to be multiple shooters,” Withrow said.
Withrow said that he knew at least one of the injured was in critical condition but he did not have information on the others. According to local news station KCRA 3, three adults were stable at the hospital.
The shooting occurred just before 6pm on Saturday inside a banquet hall, which shares a parking lot with other businesses. Stockton is a city of 320,000, about 45 miles (70km) south of Sacramento.
San Joaquin county sheriff’s office said detectives were “working to determine the circumstances leading up to this tragedy”.
“This was a birthday party for a young child, and the fact that this happened is absolutely heartbreaking,” Brent told reporters.
District attorney Ron Freitas urged the shooter to “turn yourself in immediately”.
“We are urging anyone with information, video footage, or who may have witnessed any part of this incident to contact the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office immediately,” police said.
Faith leaders in the Stockton area were planning an afternoon vigil to honor those who died and pray for the wounded.
The California governor, Gavin Newsom, had been briefed on the shooting, his office said in a post to social media. “Our hearts break for their families and the entire Stockton community,” Newsom posted later on Sun