Police seek witnesses after four people killed at California child’s birthday party

Investigators in Stockton, California are appealing for information after a shooting at a child’s birthday celebration left four people dead and several others injured. Local police say the violence erupted Saturday evening inside a banquet hall where families had gathered for a two-year-old’s party.

Authorities confirmed that three children – ages 8, 9 and 14 – were among those killed, along with a 21-year-old man. Eleven other people were treated for injuries. As of Sunday, police had not announced any arrests or identified a suspect.

Residents told The Associated Press that the celebration was for a toddler who was not physically harmed. Community leaders in Stockton have called for witnesses to come forward, stressing that cooperation is critical to the investigation.

Gun violence in the United States, particularly incidents involving children, continues to raise concern among families in British Columbia and Alberta, where many have close ties to relatives across the border. Local public safety officials in Metro Vancouver note that major U.S. incidents often prompt renewed discussions about prevention and youth safety in Canadian communities.