By Harshit
STOCKTON, NOVEMBER 30 —
A child’s birthday celebration turned into one of Stockton’s deadliest mass shootings in years on Saturday after a gunman opened fire at a banquet hall, killing at least four people and injuring 14 others. Authorities say early indicators suggest the attack was a targeted incident, though the suspect remains at large.
The shooting unfolded shortly before 10 p.m. near the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue, in or around a Dairy Queen restaurant where families had gathered for a birthday party. Videos circulating online show frantic parents carrying children, overturned tables, and crowds screaming for help as multiple gunshots echoed in the background.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that numerous victims were rushed to local hospitals, with conditions ranging from critical to stable. Deputies have cordoned off the area and launched a multi-agency manhunt for the perpetrator.
“This remains an active scene,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement on X. “Information is still being confirmed and will be released as it becomes available.”
Children Among Those Traumatized
Officials say the birthday party was attended by several families with young children. Witnesses reported chaos as parents shielded kids with their bodies and attempted to flee through side exits.
“It was supposed to be a normal night for the kids — cake, balloons, ice cream — and suddenly people were running everywhere,” said one resident who lives beside the venue. “I saw a little girl crying because she couldn’t find her mother.”
Videos posted by community members show overturned chairs, blood on the floor, and shattered windows. In one clip, a frantic voice says, “We were having a kid’s birthday… people are down… we need help now.”
Authorities have not released the names or ages of the victims.
Vice Mayor: ‘An Ice Cream Shop Should Never Be a Place of Fear’
Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee said he was “devastated and angry” after learning the shooting happened at a child’s birthday party — a location meant to be joyful and safe.
“Tonight, my heart is heavy in a way that’s hard to put into words,” Lee wrote on Facebook. “An ice cream shop should never be a place where families fear for their lives.”
Lee said he is in contact with public safety officials and demanded answers regarding the shooter’s motive, direction of travel, and potential targeting of specific individuals.
“Our community deserves to know the truth,” he said. “And the families impacted deserve justice and every resource available to support them.”
He emphasized the emotional toll on children who witnessed the violence, calling the situation “deeply personal” to a city already struggling with cycles of gun violence.
Investigators Looking at ‘Targeted Incident’
Preliminary evidence suggests this was not a random attack. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses and interviewing witnesses who say the shooter may have approached the event with a specific individual or group in mind.
“This appears early on to be a targeted incident, not an indiscriminate shooting,” a law enforcement official told reporters.
Still, the fact that families and children were caught in the crossfire has intensified public outrage. Community leaders say the event reinforces long-standing concerns about public safety in Stockton, where gun violence has risen sharply in recent years.
A City in Shock: ‘We Don’t Deserve This’
By early Sunday morning, dozens of residents gathered near the crime scene, some bringing blankets, others offering food and prayers.
“Violence touched my life as a young person, and seeing our own children, parents, and neighbors go through this shakes me deeply,” Lee said. “Please, God, uplift our community. We don’t deserve this.”
Local churches and nonprofits have begun organizing support services for families affected by the shooting, including counseling for children.
Investigation Ongoing
Deputies said they are processing more than a dozen shell casings and reviewing multiple angles of video evidence. Crime scene investigators remained at the banquet hall through the night.
Authorities have urged residents to check home-security footage and report any suspicious vehicles seen near Lucile Avenue around the time of the shooting.
As of Saturday night, no arrests had been made.
“This level of violence is unacceptable,” the sheriff’s office said. “We will pursue every lead until the suspect is in custody.”