A birthday meant for cake and laughter ended in sudden chaos, and families are left with questions that ache. Four lives were lost, three of them children, while others fight to heal and to be heard. Detectives gather videos and witness accounts, because small details can unlock truth. Leaders condemn the shooting, yet they also call for calm, patience, and courage. As grief spreads, the community turns to one another, seeking facts, comfort, and a way forward.
Timeline and early facts of the shooting
Reports of gunfire reached law enforcement just before 6 p.m. on Nov. 29, inside a banquet hall at a shopping center that includes a Dairy Queen, a donut shop, and an Asian restaurant. Between 100 and 150 people attended a child’s birthday party. Fifteen people suffered gunshot wounds; four later died, including three children aged 8, 9, and 14, and a 21-year-old.
Investigators said the attack began indoors and then spilled outside. Deputies processed the scene overnight, towing several vehicles with bullet holes and collecting evidence. They also located “some firearms” on the roof of the building; whether those weapons are connected remains under review. Authorities asked the public to share any photos or video.
Hospitals received multiple patients, children and adults alike. A Sutter Health Memorial spokesperson confirmed three adult patients in Modesto were in stable condition. The sheriff noted at least one person remained in critical condition on Nov. 30 at 11 a.m. PT. Families are waiting at bedsides, hoping stability holds and injuries heal.
How investigators are piecing the scene together
Detectives are layering physical evidence with witness accounts, because timing, movement, and motive often emerge in the overlaps. They are reviewing statements from guests, staff, and nearby patrons. They urged anyone who filmed the chaos to upload footage and call, since angles and audio can clarify trajectories related to the shooting.
The sheriff’s office finished processing the banquet hall and surrounding lot. They cataloged casings, marks, and damage patterns to reconstruct sequences. Tow trucks removed vehicles for forensic inspection. Technicians documented bullet paths and entry points to match witness timelines. Small details—a smudge, a shell, a lens flare—can connect people to actions.
Officials emphasized that information can be shared safely and anonymously. San Joaquin County’s team wants swift tips, but also accurate ones. They asked bystanders to describe clothing, direction of travel, or unusual behavior before and after. Even a brief clip from a parking-lot camera can identify who ran where, and why.
Why officials say the shooting was not random
Early indications suggest a targeted attack. The sheriff said the people responsible walked in “looking for somebody in particular.” Detectives are still testing that assessment against interviews and ballistics, while they search for one or more suspects. They stressed they are pursuing every lead and won’t narrow focus prematurely because the shooting remains active.
Prosecutors pledged support from the outset. The district attorney’s office said the suspect remained at large on Nov. 29 and asked witnesses to come forward immediately. Prosecutors and deputies are coordinating charging strategies that fit the facts. They reminded the public that sharing truthful observations early preserves accuracy.
City leaders backed that message. They warned anyone who hides, shelters, or helps the people responsible risks arrest for aiding and abetting. That includes providing false alibis, destroying evidence, or withholding videos. Officials were blunt: protecting fugitives makes you part of the crime. Cooperation, they said, is the line that protects families.
Community grief, vigil, and a call to act
The day after the attack, more than 150 people gathered at Victoria Square on Thornton Road for a prayer vigil. Roses and candles filled hands as clergy and neighbors spoke about loss, courage, and duty. Speakers urged residents to report what they know, because silence allows violence to resurface after a shooting.
Faith leaders led prayers for each person killed or hurt, naming the pain and asking for justice. A pastor told the crowd that using your voice isn’t “snitching”; it is how communities protect their children. People nodded through tears. The message resonated: compassion for families must live alongside practical help for investigators.
Local officials stood with residents. The vice mayor described parents who brought kids to a birthday and then followed medical examiners home. That image—tiny lives cut short—galvanized the crowd. Calls to end retaliatory cycles echoed, while neighbors exchanged numbers. Grief blended with resolve, and resolve with responsibility.
Reward, tips, and Stockton’s struggle with violence
A $25,000 reward now supports the effort to identify those responsible. Crime Stoppers offered $10,000 for information leading to arrest and conviction. The mayor matched with $10,000, and a councilmember added $5,000. Leaders paired the offer with a warning: harboring people tied to the shooting can result in raids and arrests.
The governor’s office called the event horrific, noting state officials are coordinating with local agencies. Context matters, too. Stockton, a Central Valley city of roughly 320,000 people, has one of California’s highest violent-crime rates. State data show 51 homicides in 2024, a burden the city has worked to reduce.
Hospitals stabilized some victims; others face a longer path. Families are planning memorials while praying for recoveries. Deputies continue to review statements and surveillance. The sheriff asked residents to keep sending tips and to share any video from Nov. 29. Each ping to investigators tightens the net around the suspects.
What helps next is truth, evidence and shared resolve
Progress depends on people who saw or recorded part of that night, because cases like this move when facts speak together. Share footage, describe details, and repeat the timelines you remember. A community can reshape what follows a shooting—it can turn fear into action, protect its children, and help justice arrive sooner.
