Stockton Birthday-Party Shooting That Killed 3 Kids Was Gang-Related, Mayor Says

A child’s birthday celebration turned into one of California’s deadliest mass shootings of the year,  and Stockton’s mayor is calling it domestic terrorism.

Here’s what went down 👇

Read this if you're tracking U.S. gun violence, policing failures, or community-level trauma.

📍 What Just Happened

Fifteen people were shot after gunmen opened fire at Monkey Space, a banquet hall in Stockton, leaving multiple victims injured.

Four victims, aged eight, nine, fourteen, and twenty-one, were killed in the attack, authorities confirmed following initial investigations at the scene.

Mayor Christina Fugazi described the incident as gang-related, labeling it domestic terrorism and emphasizing the serious nature of the violent event.

🚨 What Police Know

• Multiple shooters likely involved

• Shots came from different positions

• Attack may have been targeted

• Suspects remain at large

The FBI, federal prosecutors, and local police are now coordinating.

🕯️ Community Impact

The youngest victim was an elementary student whose parent works for the district.

Vigils are being held across the city.

Counselors will be deployed to schools this week.

🧠 Why It Matters

This was not random.

It was a coordinated, targeted attack in a setting full of children,  underscoring California’s struggle with gang violence even amid declining statewide crime.

🧾 The Bottom Line

Stockton is grieving, investigators are scrambling, and the town’s mayor is demanding federal help to catch whoever did this.