'My heart is heavy’: Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee reacts to shooting at child’s birthday party

STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA: The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed a mass shooting in Stockton during what has been described by city leadership as a child’s birthday party.

The tragedy has claimed four lives and left many others wounded, including children, families, and neighbors who were caught in the violence.

Vice Mayor Jason Lee’s statement

Lee issued a heartfelt message that captures the sorrow and anger of the community. He wrote that his “heart is heavy in a way that’s hard to put into words.”

Lee further said, "As Vice Mayor of Stockton — and as someone who grew up in this community — I am devastated and angry to learn about the mass shooting at a child’s birthday party."

He emphasized that “a birthday party should never be a place where families fear for their lives.”

Lee reflected on how violence affected his own life as a young person, and shared that “seeing our own children, parents, and neighbors go through this shakes me deeply,” he said.

Stockton, he said, "is my home. These are our families. This is our community." He affirmed that he is in “contact with staff and public safety officials to understand exactly what happened, and I will be pushing for answers.”

He made clear that the "community deserves to know the truth", and the families impacted "deserve justice and every resource available to support them."

In closing his message, Lee said he was sending “thoughts, prayers, and love to the families who are hurting, to the children who witnessed this trauma, and to everyone across our city who feels this pain.”

With faith, he asked God to "uplift the community", stating that Stockton “doesn’t deserve this” and that “we will not accept this as our norm.”

Stockton mass shooting investigation

According to the official report from the Sheriff’s Office, the shooting occurred just before 6.00 pm local time, inside a banquet hall located near the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue in Stockton. 

The hall shares a parking lot with other businesses.

According to the latest updates, fourteen people were struck by gunfire, leaving four dead and several others hospitalized with injuries.

Officials indicated early signs suggest the shooting may have been a targeted incident. Detectives are working to determine what prompted the attack and who was responsible.

No suspect has yet been arrested. Authorities have appealed to the public for any information or video footage that might help.

As the investigation continues, public safety officials emphasize that information remains limited and that authorities are exploring all possibilities.