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
Jerome DeWayne Hughes, 35, Fatally Shot During Bonfire Gathering in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
A gathering among friends turned into a devastating tragedy Sunday night when 35-year-old Jerome DeWayne Hughes was fatally shot during a bonfire gathering in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. His death has left family members, friends, and others who were present mourning a sudden and heartbreaking loss.
Authorities have arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the fatal shooting. The suspect, identified as Derrick Lamont Edwards Jr., is facing a murder charge as investigators continue working to establish what led to the deadly confrontation.
According to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched at approximately 10:20 p.m. Sunday to the 4300 block of Culver Road, west of Tuscaloosa, following reports of a shooting.
Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Captain Jack Kennedy said the shooting occurred during a social gathering around a bonfire. What had begun as an evening spent with friends ended in violence, prompting an emergency response and a homicide investigation.
Hughes had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to DCH Regional Medical Center for emergency treatment, but despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead.
His death has left loved ones grieving a life lost during what was supposed to be an ordinary gathering among friends.
Following interviews with witnesses and an examination of the crime scene, investigators obtained a murder warrant for 23-year-old Derrick Lamont Edwards Jr.
Authorities reported that Edwards was taken into custody within a few hours of the shooting through coordinated efforts involving the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit and the U.S. Marshals Service.
He has been charged with murder and is being held without bond, according to the information provided.
The charge is an allegation, and the case will proceed through the criminal justice system. Edwards is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Although investigators have made an arrest, important questions about the shooting remain unanswered.
Authorities have not publicly explained what led to the confrontation, whether there was an argument before the gunfire, or what may have motivated the alleged attack.
Detectives continue gathering information and reviewing evidence as they work to establish the full sequence of events.
Anyone with information that could assist investigators is encouraged to contact Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit detectives at 205-464-8690.
At 35 years old, Jerome DeWayne Hughes had a life and future that mattered to the people who knew and loved him. His sudden death has left family members and friends facing the painful reality of losing someone close to them.
The gathering on Culver Road was supposed to be an opportunity for people to spend time together. Instead, it became the setting of a fatal incident that has deeply affected those connected to the tragedy.
For Jerome’s loved ones, the days ahead will bring grief, difficult questions, and memories of a man whose life ended far too soon.
As the investigation continues, thoughts and condolences remain with the family and friends of Jerome DeWayne Hughes, as well as everyone affected by the shooting.
May Jerome be remembered with love and compassion, and may his family find strength and comfort during this heartbreaking time.