SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Four people were killed and 10 others were wounded in a mass shooting Saturday evening during a child’s birthday party in Stockton, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.

The shooting occurred just before 6 p.m. at a banquet hall in the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue, near Thornton Road, the Sheriff’s Office said. The street is home to the former Kudos Children Theater Company and is just south of the Thornton Plaza shopping center.

Emergency dispatchers received multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire and numerous victims, including juveniles. Deputies arriving at the scene were told a 15-year-old and a 9-year-old were among the injured. Authorities did not immediately confirm how many children were struck or provide conditions for the wounded.

Video posted to social media showed a heavy police presence outside homes on Lucile Avenue, with medics treating at least one victim on the street. Clothing and debris were visible on the ground as law enforcement secured the area.

“We can confirm at this time that approximately 14 individuals were struck by gunfire, and four victims have been confirmed deceased,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “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. Detectives are actively working to determine the circumstances leading up to this tragedy.”

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas addressed reporters at the scene, calling the mass shooting “unthinkable.”

“When this individual is caught you have my promise that you will have the full force of my office’s resources in holding this individual fully accountable,” Freitas said. “Let this ring perfectly clear in this community — in San Joaquin County — violence of this nature has absolutely no place at any time, shape or form, and children should not be harmed by gun and gang violence.”

Freitas confirmed that multiple agencies were assisting in the investigation, including the Stockton Police Department, the California Highway Patrol and the FBI.

Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee confirmed the shooting occurred during a child’s birthday party. “An ice cream shop should never be a place where families fear for their lives,” Lee said in a social media post. “Violence touched my life as a young person, and seeing our own children, parents and neighbors go through this shakes me deeply.”

Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi condemned the shooting and pleaded with residents to come forward with any information.

“Stockton is better than this,” she said yards from where the gunfire erupted. “Whoever did this — if you know them — as the district attorney, just said, please call Crime Stoppers. You can leave an anonymous tip. We’ve got work to do. And this. This type of violence. Again, our city is better than that.”

She added: “And what happened tonight, again, unacceptable. Families should be together instead of at the hospital, standing next to their loved one, praying that they survived.”

Authorities asked the public to avoid the area near Thornton and Wagner Heights roads, just north of the city limits, as the investigation continued into the night.

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, they 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.”

Fugazi reflected on the magnitude of the loss during a 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.”

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