A shooter killed one woman and wounded six other people inside a Spirit Halloween store at a Northern California mall on Friday night, and police said the shooting appeared to be targeted. The shooter has not been caught.
Preliminary information points to one suspect, police said Saturday. Detectives are reviewing video and other evidence to identify the person responsible.
What We Know So Far
The gunfire erupted at about 8:30 p.m. inside the store at the Solano Town Center mall, which sells Halloween costumes and decor, Fairfield police said. The department said the shooting “stemmed from a targeted incident involving one suspect.” Police Chief Dan Marshall had said Friday night that detectives were working to identify “the suspect or suspects.”
Police identified the dead woman Saturday as Constance Hages, 31. Her family told police she was pregnant. Confirmation from the Solano County Coroner was pending, NBC News said.
A 16 year old boy and two men, ages 19 and 32, were in critical condition. A 23 year old man was hospitalized in critical but stable condition. Two other men, ages 19 and 43, were treated for gunshot wounds and released. No arrests have been made.
The FBI’s Sacramento field office sent its evidence response team to help.
David Bernal told NBC affiliate KCRA that his wife was in the store when the shooter opened fire and escaped through an emergency exit with several others. “She’s at home right now, still in shock,” he said. She told him she heard “five big bangs.”
What Authorities Are Saying
Marshall said detectives were “diligently working to identify the suspect or suspects responsible for this horrific shooting.”
The department said no further information would be released for now. It said the incident has caused concern in the community, “particularly with the many Halloween events and celebrations planned for today.” It urged residents to “remain vigilant, look out for one another, and report any suspicious activity.”
Solano Town Center, which has 130 stores and restaurants, stayed open but canceled its planned trick-or-treating event “in light of last night’s event,” the mall said.
Differing Accounts
The wording on suspects changed slightly. Marshall spoke Friday of a “suspect or suspects,” while police said in their Saturday update that preliminary information pointed to one suspect. The family’s statement that the woman was pregnant has not been confirmed by the coroner.
Why This Matters
Hours before the Fairfield shooting, another person was shot dead inside a Spirit Halloween store in Madison Heights, Michigan. A 21 year old Detroit resident was seriously injured and later died, the Madison Heights Police Department said. Police said the alleged shooter, a 21 year old man, had non life threatening injuries after being assaulted by several bystanders as officers took him into custody, and was taken to a hospital. Investigators expect to seek criminal charges. The two incidents do not appear to be connected, NBC News said.
Fairfield, a city of about 120,000, is roughly 37 miles (60 kilometers) southwest of Sacramento and halfway between Sacramento and San Francisco.
What Happens Next
Detectives are working to identify the shooter, and the FBI is assisting. Police said no additional information would be released for now.
Sources: NBC News and the Associated Press, citing Fairfield police, Police Chief Dan Marshall, the FBI’s Sacramento office, the Madison Heights Police Department and KCRA.
