Children among 4 dead in birthday party mass shooting, California police say
CBC
Authorities in California asked the public for tips on Sunday in finding the person responsible for a shooting that left four people dead, three of them children, at a family gathering at a banquet hall in Stockton and wounded many more.
Heather Brent, a spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, said the children killed in Saturday's shooting were ages eight, nine and 14. She said a 21-year-old was also killed in the attack at a banquet hall in the city of Stockton.
"This was a birthday party for a young child, and the fact that this happened is absolutely heartbreaking," Brent said at a news briefing Sunday at the site.
Brent said police are continuing to search for possible suspects. No one has been arrested.
Faith leaders in the Stockton area were planning a Sunday afternoon vigil to honour the dead and pray for the 11 people who were wounded.
Local officials pleaded with the public for help. Detectives also were still working to identify a possible motive.
"If you have any information as to this individual, reach out immediately. If you are this individual, turn yourself in immediately," San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas said.
The shooting occurred just before 6 p.m. inside the hall, which shares a parking lot with other businesses. Stockton is a city of 320,000 about 40 miles (66 kilometres) south of Sacramento.
Jason Lee, vice mayor and city council member, also said the hall was hosting a child's birthday party, according to his Facebook post.
"This is Thanksgiving weekend. This is when families come together, celebrate, share memories, give each other love," Mayor Christina Fugazi said. "Unfortunately tonight, heaven is a little bigger with the individuals, children and adults that unfortunately did not make it."
Fugazi recalled a shooting several years ago in which "seven people were gunned down" in the city, adding that both attacks were "unacceptable."
"Stockton is better than this," she said.
Authorities did not immediately provide additional information about the conditions of the victims.
"Families should be together instead of at the hospital, standing next to their loved one, praying that they survive," Fugazi said
Denmark’s prime minister insisted on Thursday that her country can’t negotiate on its sovereignty, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he agreed to a "framework of a future deal" on Greenland and Arctic security with the head of NATO.
Federal immigration officers are being given the sweeping power to forcibly enter people's homes without a judge's warrant, according to an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) memo obtained by The Associated Press.
As U.S. President Donald Trump's insistence on owning Greenland becomes even more vehement, there's a growing sense of urgency around the globe to figure out what — if anything — could change his mind.
Looking typically earnest, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stepped up to the podium on Monday morning and made a compelling case for respectful, deliberate diplomatic engagement with Donald Trump over the Greenland crisis, warning the U.K. has too much at stake economically and militarily to be driven by emotion.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday the EU shared concerns with the United States about Arctic security, but if President Donald Trump followed through with new tariffs based on a dispute over Greenland, the alliance's response would be "unflinching" and "united."
Hackers disrupted Iranian state television satellite transmissions to air footage supporting the country's exiled crown prince and calling on security forces to not "point your weapons at the people," online video showed early Monday, the latest disruption to follow nationwide protests in the country.
Winter hasn’t been kind to Gaza. Freezing rain has lashed the coast, and brisk Mediterranean winds have blown down tents that house many of Gaza’s population of close to two million homeless Palestinians.
Eight European nations in a joint statement on Sunday said they stood in solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland following U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to annex the Arctic island.
Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado was the latest foreign leader to enter the Oval Office with a golden gift on Thursday.
Buckle up! The electric vehicle market in this country is about to take a sharp turn.
Iran's deadly crackdown appears to have broadly quelled protests for now, according to a rights group and residents, as state media reported more arrests on Friday in the shadow of U.S. threats to intervene if the killing continues.
There's a new threat to law and order roaming U.S. streets.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cast the U.S. announcement that the fragile ceasefire in Gaza would advance to its second phase as largely symbolic, raising questions about how its more challenging elements will be carried out.