Four people, including three children, were killed and 11 others were injured in a mass shooting at a birthday party in Stockton, California, authorities reported.

The shooting erupted inside a banquet hall on Sunday, where between 100 and 150 guests had gathered to celebrate a child’s birthday, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said the attack occurred shortly before 6:00 pm local time (0200 GMT on Sunday) and urged anyone with information, video footage, or who witnessed any part of the incident to come forward.

Spokesperson Heather Brent called the shooting "unfathomable" and added, "This is a very active and ongoing investigation, and information remains limited, with early indications suggesting this may be a targeted incident, and investigators are exploring all possibilities."

$25,000 reward for info

San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said the gunfire appears to have started indoors before moving outside. Investigators have completed processing the scene and are now reviewing evidence.

Multiple vehicles, some with bullet damage, were towed from the area, Withrow said, noting that "some firearms" were found on the building’s roof, though it is unclear if they were connected to the shooting.

Sheriff Withrow added, "We are going to say that we are confident that this was not a random act … They walked into this area and were probably looking for somebody in particular. Why they did that, what they are part of, who they are, we do not know."

Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi announced a $25,000 reward on Sunday for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.

Mass shootings plague communities in the US

Mass shootings in the United States remain alarmingly frequent, with events striking in homes, schools, churches, and public venues, often leaving communities shaken. As of October 2025, the US had already experienced more than 330 mass-shooting incidents this year, defined as events in which four or more people (excluding the shooter) are shot.

In recent years, the tragic toll has been stark. For example, in September 2024, a shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia left four people dead and nine others wounded. In June 2024, a mass shooting at a supermarket in Fordyce, Arkansas, resulted in four fatalities and 11 wounded, one of the deadliest active-shooter incidents of that year in the US. As recently as August 2025, a deadly attack at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis killed two children, among others, and left dozens injured, a grim reminder that places of worship and community gatherings remain vulnerable.

On a national scale, while some data suggest a slight dip, for example, 24 “active-shooter” incidents were reported in 2024, a reduction from prior years, the overall number of mass-shooting events remains very high. Broad-scope trackers estimate hundreds each year, and the aggregate number of casualties, both fatal and non-fatal, continues to mount.