Stockton: A gunman opened fire at a children's birthday party at a restaurant in Stockton, California, killing at least four people and injuring 11 others.
According to Thai News Agency, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office reported that the shooting occurred just before 6 p.m. on Saturday at a restaurant in Northern California, where a child's birthday party was being attended by family and friends. The gunman, whose connection to the party remains unclear, opened fire, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including three children, the youngest being just 8 years old. Eleven others were injured, several critically, requiring immediate surgical intervention, before the shooter fled the scene.
A spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office has urged anyone who witnessed the incident or possesses information about the suspect to contact law enforcement. Authorities are diligently working to identify and apprehend the suspect responsible for this tragic event. The spokesperson described the incident as a "very sad and heartbreaking event," emphasizing that a child's birthday party, meant to be a joyful occasion, turned into a scene of tragedy.
California is known for having some of the strictest gun control laws in the United States. However, there have been changes to these laws over the years. Notably, in 2021, a federal court overturned a state court ruling that had banned assault-style firearms, such as the AR-15 rifle.