California Halloween Store Shooting Kills One

One person was killed and six others were wounded in a California Halloween store shooting at a shopping mall in Fairfield on Friday night. Police said the gunfire broke out shortly before 8:30pm local time at a Spirit Halloween store in the Solano Town Center mall.

Fairfield Police Chief Dan Marshall told reporters that one person was killed and six others were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds. At least three of the wounded were in critical condition. Police counted seven confirmed victims with gunshot wounds in total, including the person who died.

Dawn reported that investigators had not yet identified who was responsible. Marshall said late on Friday that the crime scene was still very active. He said police had not identified the suspect or suspects behind the shooting.

What police confirmed about the California Halloween store shooting

The shooting took place at a seasonal Halloween store inside the Solano Town Center mall in Fairfield. Fairfield sits about 47 miles, or 76 kilometres, northeast of San Francisco in northern California. The time of the incident was shortly before 8:30pm on Friday, October 30, which was 0330 GMT on Saturday.

One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the New York Post’s account of the police briefing. The six survivors were rushed to hospital. Three of them were listed in critical condition.

Police have released no description of a suspect, and no one had been detained in connection with the incident when the latest reports were filed. Officers were still working to establish whether one person or more than one person was involved. They were also working to determine how many shots were fired.

The ages and identities of the victims had not been released either. Police said detectives were speaking with witnesses and working to identify the person responsible. Marshall said no areas outside the Solano Town Center mall were on lockdown.

The investigation and the wider response

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Sacramento office said it was aware of the incident at a business on Gateway Boulevard in Fairfield. It said it was deploying its Evidence Response Team to assist the Fairfield Police Department.

Officers from the neighbouring Suisun City Police Department also provided mutual aid. Suisun City Mayor Alma Hernandez confirmed that her city’s officers were assisting in the response. She urged residents to stay away from the shopping mall while the police operation continued.

A witness told local station KCRA 3 that his wife was inside the store when she heard gunshots and saw people running. He said she reported hearing around five, six or seven shots as people ran.

The store is a temporary, seasonal outlet in space once occupied by Best Buy, at a mall that holds about 130 stores. The shooting happened on the night before Halloween, celebrated in the United States on Saturday, October 31. Shoppers had packed the store for last-minute Halloween purchases on Friday night.

A second US shooting days earlier

The Fairfield shooting came days after another shooting near a university campus in Florida. On October 26, a shooting near Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s campus in Tallahassee left 11 people with gunshot wounds and another person injured, according to Dawn. Police counted six adults and six juveniles among the injured in that incident on Perry Street near the campus.

Frequently asked questions

Where did the California Halloween store shooting happen?

At a Spirit Halloween store inside the Solano Town Center mall in Fairfield, California, about 47 miles northeast of San Francisco.

How many people were hurt?

Seven people suffered gunshot wounds. One person died, and six were taken to hospital. At least three of the survivors were in critical condition.

Has a suspect been arrested?

No. Police had not identified a suspect or suspects, had released no description, and had detained no one when the latest reports were filed.

Is the mall area on lockdown?

No areas outside the Solano Town Center mall were on lockdown, according to Fairfield Police Chief Dan Marshall. The mall itself remained an active crime scene.