Three children among dead in mass shooting at California birthday party
Stockton, California: Four people, three of them children, died in a mass shooting at a birthday party in the United States, which investigators described as a “targeted incident.”
“This is heartbreaking,” said Heather Brent, spokeswoman for the San Joaquin County sheriff’s office east of San Francisco, California.
Emergency services at the scene of the mass shooting in Stockton, California.Credit: access point
The dead victims were ages 8, 9, 14 and 21, Brent said. Additionally, 11 people were injured. No one was detained as of Sunday afternoon local time, and authorities did not provide details about why they believed the attack was intentional or who might have been targeted.
The shooting happened just before 6pm on Saturday at a salon that shares its parking lot with other businesses. Stockton is a city of 320,000 about 40 miles south of Sacramento.
“This was a little boy’s birthday party and for this to happen is absolutely heartbreaking,” Brent told reporters.
“If you have surveillance footage, are a local business here, are in the area, live in the area or may have heard rumors – please contact the sheriff’s office.”
He said he could not provide information about a suspect’s motive or details, which could hinder the investigation.
“Finding the person or persons who committed this crime is priority No. 1,” Brent said.
