Authorities in the US state of California have appealed to the public for any information they can provide in the search for a suspect after three children and an adult were killed in a mass shooting during a child’s birthday party in Stockton.
“This is a heartbreaking incident,” San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Heather Brent said, adding that investigators believe it was a “targeted incident” that happened at a banquet hall where more than 100 people had gathered Saturday night. Brent said the dead were ages eight, nine, 14 and 21. 11 people have been injured. No arrests had been made as of Sunday afternoon.
“If you have any footage, are a local business, live nearby or perhaps have heard a rumor, please contact the Sheriff’s Office,” Brent appealed.
She said she could not share information about the possible motive or suspect behind the incident as it could hamper the investigation. The firing took place inside the hall at around 6 pm on Saturday evening.
Stockton is a city of 320,000, located about 65 kilometers south of Sacramento. “This was a small child’s birthday party and it’s really tragic that this happened,” Brent told reporters. District Attorney Ron Freitas urged the shooter to “surrender immediately.”