Mass shooting at Stockton birthday party stirs outrage. ‘Stop this madness’
A deadly shooting at a child’s birthday party in Stockton has prompted online reactions of sorrow and anger.
Gunshots rang out at a banquet hall in the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue just before 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 29, resulting in four deaths and at 11 people injured, The Sacramento Bee reported. Stockton is less than 50 miles south of Sacramento.
The gunfire took place during a child’s birthday party, Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee said in a social media post.
“An ice cream shop should never be a place where families fear for their lives,” Lee said. The shooting took place inside a banquet hall near a Dairy Queen restaurant.
Sheriff’s officials continue to investigate, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post. The Sheriff’s Office said the deceased victims were 8, 9 and 14 years old, along with a 21-year-old adult.
Residents react with prayers, anger
News of the shooting prompted social media reactions ranging from sadness to outrage.
“I pray for all the victims, I live in Modesto and just left Memorial hospital and it was packed with some of the families. This is just crazy God be with us right now. We need you LORD,” Kenya McIntyre wrote on Facebook.
A spokesperson for Memorial Medical Center confirmed Sunday morning that the hospital received three adult patients, all in stable condition.
“Prayers for everyone. My heart breaks for these families,” read a comment by Jodi Reynolds Wilkie.
“Prayers up for the victims their family members for all of our law enforcement officers detectives swat and anyone else trying to crack this case! May the perpetrators be arrested tried in a court of law and be found guilty and be punished to the full extent of the law!!!” wrote Meada Green.
“Prayers for everyone. Prayers we catch this person or ppl. We need to fix the laws and bring god back into the family life. Stop this madness,” wrote Shirley Mayer Goulart.
“Change is needed in these young lives. So sad,” wrote Anthony Mungia.
State, local officials respond to ‘horrific’ crime
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the incident, according to his office, which called the incident “horrific.”
The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services was monitoring developments and coordinating with local authorities, his office said.
Rep. Josh Harder said he was also watching what unfolded in his congressional district. “I’m devastated at news of a mass shooting in Stockton, and Pam and I are praying for the victims and their families,” he said in a social media post. “My office is carefully monitoring this situation and in close contact with local law enforcement.”
Stockton Mayor Christine Fugazi, who spoke to Newsom by phone, reflected on the magnitude of the loss during a Thanksgiving weekend meant for families “to come together, share memories, give each other love.”
“Unfortunately, tonight, heaven is a little bigger with the individuals — children and adults — that unfortunately did not make it.”
Former Manteca mayor Steve Debrum said on Facebook, “I am deeply saddened by the horrific news coming out of Stockton. The shooting that claimed the lives of innocent children and adults is a tragedy we must never accept as normal.”
Commenting on Debrum’s post, Kitty Trudeau-Walker wrote, “It’s getting downright disgusting! Some people put no value on my at all. I pray they find these murderers and the sooner the better!”
The Sacramento Bee’s Daniel Hunt contributed to this story.
This story was originally published November 30, 2025 at 12:25 PM with the headline "Mass shooting at Stockton birthday party stirs outrage. ‘Stop this madness’."