California Stockton Mass Shooting: 'Everybody Just Dived to the Ground' as Gunfire Erupted at Birthday Party
Image Source: Internet
A joyous birthday celebration turned into a nightmare in Stockton, California, when a gunman opened fire, killing four people, including three children, and injuring 11 others. Patrice Williams, the mother who was hosting the party for her 2-year-old daughter, recounted the terrifying incident, saying that everyone dove to the ground when the shooting started. According to Williams, the party was meant to be a happy occasion, but it turned into panic just before 6 pm on Saturday when the gunman entered the building and began shooting. The victims included an 8-year-old, a 9-year-old, a 14-year-old, and a 21-year-old. 'I just wanted all my family to come together,' Williams told the Associated Press. 'Everybody was getting ready to gather round, and all we heard was gunshots. It was just unexpected.' Williams' daughter was unharmed, but her daughter's father lost two nieces in the shooting. The 11 people who were wounded range in age from 8 to around 30 years old. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office has appealed to the public for tips on the suspect, describing the incident as 'targeted.' Investigators believe it was a premeditated attack, and authorities are urging anyone with surveillance footage or information to come forward. As the community mourns the loss of young lives, Williams' words of sorrow and regret are a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence. 'I just want to say I'm sorry to all the mothers out there who lost their kids at my birthday party. I'm just so shocked and lost,' she said. The family is now seeking justice, with great-aunt Berniece Bass calling on anyone with information to come forward. 'If you have any idea who pulled up and robbed us, stole from us, and took from us, lives, tell it,' she said. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to identify the suspect and determine the motive behind the attack. In the meantime, the community is left to grapple with the senseless loss of young lives and the trauma that has been inflicted on the families affected.
