“We all know that there are people out there [who] are violent and commit violent crimes,” said Patrick Withrow, sheriff of San Joaquin County.<\/p>\n
“But these animals walked in and shot children at a children’s birthday party.”<\/p>\n
![\"Bystanders](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/skynews-california-stockton_7096164.jpg\")
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Image:
\n Bystanders watch at the scene of the shooting in Stockton, California. Pic: AP<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/85af4d476a7c9696c23f85e00de0b9e0e63b57f468555285457e45d81e5d9931_7096165.jpg\")
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1:48<\/p>\n
Children killed in birthday party shooting<\/p>\n
Officers were called to the banquet hall in Stockton just before 6pm local time (2am UK time).<\/p>\n
Around 100-150 people had gathered to celebrate a child’s birthday.<\/p>\n
The sheriff told reporters he had been at a Thanksgiving celebration in Oregon during the incident but “put down my grandbabies to come hunt down these animals who took somebody else’s babies away from them”.<\/p>\n
![\"Investigators](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/skynews-stockton-california_7097154.jpg\")
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Image:
\n Investigators examine the scene on Sunday. Pic: AP<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/skynews-stockton-california_7097153.jpg\")
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Image:
\n A man walks near the remains of flares near the site of Saturday’s shooting. Pic: Bronte Wittpenn\/San Francisco Chronicle\/AP<\/p>\n
He appealed for the public to send in “any little bit” of information that could lead to the arrest of the gunmen.<\/p>\n
“If you know anything about this, you have to come forward and tell us what you know.”<\/p>\n
There is currently nobody in custody over the incident.<\/p>\n
![\"First](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/skynews-mass-shooting-stockton_7096163.jpg\")
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Image:
\n First responders attending. Pic: AP<\/p>\n
Although the investigation is still under way, Sheriff Withrow said there appeared to have been “multiple shooters” who began the attack indoors and then moved outside.<\/p>\n
Read more from Sky News: The shooting was “not a random act”, he said. “They walked into this area and were probably looking for somebody in particular.”<\/p>\n He confirmed that guns had been found on the roof of a nearby building but it was too early to say whether they were “related to this crime”.<\/p>\n Datawrapper<\/p>\n This content is provided by Datawrapper, which may be using cookies and other technologies. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Datawrapper cookies. Enable Cookies<\/a> Police have also towed multiple cars in the area, some damaged with bullet holes, in case they can be used as evidence.<\/p>\n “Please continue to give us more information,” he said, “and we will follow every single lead.”<\/p>\n A vigil was held for the victims on Sunday, according to local media, with the entire local council in attendance.<\/p>\n
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