Birthday Celebration Turns Deadly: Four Killed in California Mass Shooting

Four people were killed and ten others injured after a mass shooting erupted during a child’s birthday party in California. The incident took place on Saturday evening inside a restaurant in Stockton, a city in the northern part of the state.

According to local authorities, both adults and children were among the victims. The conditions of those injured have not yet been released. The suspect fled the scene and has not been identified, though police believe the attack may have been targeted.

The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened shortly before 6:00 p.m. local time (02:00 GMT Sunday). Officials are urging anyone who witnessed the event or has videos or information to come forward.

Spokeswoman Heather Brent described the shooting as “unfathomable,” noting that the investigation is still active and details remain limited. Early findings suggest the attack may have been intentional, but investigators are considering all possible scenarios.

Stockton’s Mayor, Christina Fugazi, condemned the violence, calling it “unacceptable.” She added, “Families should be spending time together not standing in a hospital, praying their loved one survives.”

California is known for having some of the strictest gun laws in the U.S., yet these regulations have faced legal challenges in recent years. In 2021, a federal judge struck down the state’s ban on assault weapons, including the AR-15 rifle. The following year, the U.S. Supreme Court expanded gun-carrying rights by overturning a New York law, putting similar California restrictions at risk.