Family members were getting ready to cut the cake at the party to celebrate Patrice Williams’ daughter turning two when gunfire erupted inside the banquet hall in Stockton, California
The mum of a toddler whose birthday party was “targeted” by a gunman who killed three children as young as eight says she is “shocked and lost”.
Patrice Williams thought the gunshots were merely balloons popping at the celebration of her daughter turning two. Family members were about to cut the cake in the banquet hall in Stockton, California when the shooter struck, killing three children and a 21-year-old man on Saturday.
The thug remains on the run despite a desperate police appeal for the public to come forward with information — even that is just rumours. Ms Williams, whose sister, a cousin and three of her friends were shot in the burst of gunfire, said today: “I actually thought it was my balloons popping. It was gunshots. It was just unexpected. I don’t know what happened, and I’m just so shocked and lost.”
The birthday girl, who turned two, was uninjured but, in addition to the three deceased, 11 other people were shot and hurt. At least one is in critical condition, police say.
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The children who died were eight, nine and fourteen. They were three of more than 100 people gathered at the banquet hall for the birthday party, San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said. Detectives believe the gunfire continued outside and there may have been multiple shooters. No one, though, is in custody.
Reacting to the atrocity, Ms Williams continued: “They deserve to be in jail. They deserve to go to hell… I’m sorry, but I just … it’s not respectable. It’s a kids’ party.” The mum, surrounded by family members, teared up as she said parents who plan birthday parties for their kids should consider having them indoors because of the risk of violence.
Sheriff Withrow urged anyone with information to contact his office with tips, mobile phone video or witness accounts. He said: “This is a time for our community to show that we will not put up with this type of behavior, when people will just walk in and kill children. And so if you know anything about this, you have to come forward and tell us what you know. If not, you just become complacent and think this is acceptable behaviour.”
Sheriff’s spokesperson Heather Brent has said investigators believe it was a “targeted incident.” Officials did not elaborate on why authorities believe it was intentional or who might have been targeted. She said investigators would welcome any information, “even rumours.”
Stockton resident Carolyn Tahod, who didn’t know the victims, showed up Monday to place bouquets of flowers at a makeshift memorial with candles lit in honor of those who died. She said: “I’m just the average person that has a big heart, and I have grandkids. I would be devastated if this were to happen in our family.”
Roscoe Brown, who said the party was in honour of his brother’s granddaughter, works for the city of Stockton’s Office of Violence Prevention. Mr Brown was in Arizona when he learned about the shooting and drove straight to the scene. He said a niece and nephew were shot, and he knows several other victims. He didn’t have information about their conditions.
