At least four people, including three children, have been killed in a mass shooting at a family gathering in California, authorities say.
The victims were eight, nine, 14 and 21 years old, a spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said on Sunday. Eleven others were injured in the incident at a restaurant in the state’s northern city of Stockton.
A suspect is still on the loose and police say they believe the shooting may have been “targeted”.
The city’s deputy mayor earlier said the shooting had occurred “at a children’s birthday party”. Police have not confirmed the type of event at which the shooting occurred, beyond it being a family gathering.
“[A] birthday party should never be a place where families fear for their lives,” Deputy Mayor Jason Lee wrote on social media.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened shortly before 18:00 local time (02:00 GMT on Sunday), and is appealing to anyone with “information, video footage, or who may have witnessed any part of the incident” to come forward.
Spokeswoman Heather Brent described the incident as “unfathomable”, adding: “This is a very active and ongoing investigation, and information remains limited.
“Early indications suggest this may be a targeted incident, and investigators are exploring all possibilities.”
California has some of the strictest firearm laws in the US, and has in recent years faced challenges to it.
