Crime
Four Dead, Including Three Children, and Eleven Injured in Targeted Mass Shooting at Stockton Birthday Celebration
A mass shooting at a private banquet hall in north Stockton on Saturday evening left four people dead—three of them children—and at least eleven others injured, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred shortly before 6:00 p.m. in the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue, where approximately 100 to 150 people had gathered for a family celebration, identified by city officials as a child’s birthday party.
The venue, a recently opened event space known as Monkey Space, previously housed the Kudos Children’s Theatre.
Authorities reported that 15 individuals were struck by gunfire, with victims ranging in age from youth to adulthood.
The deceased victims have not been publicly identified; however, officials confirmed their ages as 8, 9, 14, and 21 years old.
Early investigative findings suggest the attack was targeted, though officials have not released details regarding motive or potential suspects.
Multiple unofficial law enforcement and community sources allege that Stockton-based rappers MBnel and Fly Boy Doughy may have been the intended targets, as the party was reportedly for one of their children. These claims remain unconfirmed by authorities.
Multiple 911 calls were received reporting gunfire near the intersection of Lucile Avenue and Thornton Road, just steps from a nearby Dairy Queen.
Deputies from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office were first on the scene, as the location falls within an unincorporated jurisdictional area.
Responding law enforcement declared a mass casualty incident upon arrival. Victims were transported to multiple area hospitals; however, the number and identities of facilities receiving patients have not been released. At least one hospital increased security following the incident.
A spokesperson for Sutter Health confirmed that three adult patients treated at Memorial Medical Center in Modesto remained in stable condition as of Sunday.
The shooting has sparked widespread outrage and mourning throughout Stockton.
District Attorney Ron Freitas condemned the violence, stating:
“Violence of this nature has absolutely no place at any time — and children should not be harmed by gun and gang violence.”
Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi characterized the attack as an act of terrorism:
“Gang violence exists in cities across the country, but this act was a pure act of terrorism. Our community is grieving an unimaginable loss.”
The Stockton Unified School District announced it will deploy mental health clinicians and counselors across all 55 school sites as officials prepare for the possibility that the child victims were district students.
No suspects have been formally named in connection with the shooting, and investigators have not confirmed whether the gunfire was carried out by a single shooter or multiple individuals.
However, hours after the incident, law enforcement detained multiple individuals during a separate police operation near Pixie Drive and Doray Court, where a white SUV with bullet damage was seized.
Five individuals—including a 16-year-old male—were arrested on suspicion of weapons, gang activity, and conspiracy charges. Officials emphasized that these arrests have not yet been confirmed as directly linked to the mass shooting.
Stockton Police Night Watch records list those arrested as:
- Issac Grosvenor, 27
- Destiny Willis, 32
- Kevin Le, 22
- Jovon Frank, 19
- Unidentified Male, 16
Ballistics testing is underway to determine whether firearms seized during the arrests are connected to the Lucile Avenue shooting.
Authorities are urging anyone with video evidence, eyewitness accounts, or information related to the shooting to contact:
- San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office (non-emergency line): (209) 468-4400
- Stockton Crime Stoppers: (209) 946-0600
A reward for information leading to arrests and conviction has reached $25,000, funded by Crime Stoppers, Mayor Fugazi, and Councilwoman Mariela Ponce.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Heather Brent said investigators are actively pursuing leads:
“We are not releasing details that may compromise this investigation. Our detectives are working thoroughly and diligently to identify those responsible.”
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple University’s Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
“The loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.”
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victim’s last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individual’s involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.