What was meant to be a joyful birthday celebration for a child in California turned into a night of terror, after a mass shooting at a Stockton restaurant left four people dead and ten others injured on Saturday evening.

Officials say the gunfire erupted shortly before 18:00 local time in the northern California city, sending families scrambling for cover as chaos swept through the venue. The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that both adults and children were among the victims. The conditions of the injured remain unclear.

‘Unfathomable’ tragedy shocks community

Heather Brent, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, described the attack as “unfathomable,” saying investigators were working around the clock to piece together what happened.

“This is a very active and ongoing investigation, and information remains limited,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “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.”

Authorities have yet to identify a suspect, who remains at large, heightening concern in a community already rattled by the violence.

City leaders express outrage and grief

Stockton’s Vice Mayor Jason Lee said he was “devastated and angry” to learn that a child’s birthday party became a site of mass violence.

“A birthday party should never be a place where families fear for their lives,” he wrote on social media.

The tragedy has drawn attention at the state level as well. A statement from the office of California Governor Gavin Newsom said he had been “briefed on the horrific shooting” and was monitoring developments closely.

A community left searching for answers

Saturday’s attack has once again forced Stockton, a city already familiar with struggles around violent crime, into the national spotlight. For families who gathered to celebrate a child’s milestone, the night instead became a grim reminder of the country’s ongoing struggle with gun violence.

As investigators work to determine what led to the shooting — and who was behind it — residents are left grappling with heartbreak, fear and a need for accountability.

Authorities have urged anyone with information about the suspect or the events leading up to the shooting to come forward, as the community mourns the loss of life from what should have been a happy occasion.