The San Joaquin County Sheriff provided a key update on Sunday, November 30, regarding the mass shooting that occurred at a banquet hall in Stockton, California, on November 29. The incident tragically left four people dead and 15 others injured.
Speaking at a press conference, Sheriff Patrick Withrow shared the department’s preliminary findings on the suspects and the nature of the attack.
Key Findings from Sheriff Withrow
Sheriff Withrow provided the following details on the investigation:
- Fatalities: Four victims succumbed to their injuries. The deceased ranged in age from 8 to 21 years old (aged 8, 9, 14, and 21 years).
- Multiple Shooters: Authorities currently believe that there were multiple shooters involved in the incident.
- Location: The shooting began indoors and continued as it moved outdoors. The event was confirmed to be a birthday party, leading the sheriff to assume some of the people present were related.
- Custody Status: As of the press conference, authorities do not have anyone in custody related to the shooting itself.
Investigation into Motive and Weapons
The Sheriff was cautious regarding the motive, emphasizing that all angles were being examined:
- Targeted or Gang Violence: While the Sheriff’s office had initially hinted at evidence suggesting a ‘targeted incident’, and Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi had publicly called it an act of ‘gang violence’, Sheriff Withrow stated it was too soon to reach a conclusion.
- Weapons Used: Details about the firearms used, including the specific type of gun, were still unknown. The Sheriff noted that these details would be determined after the ballistics tests were completed.
Separate Arrests and Increased Reward
Sheriff Withrow declined to comment on the separate arrest of five individuals in Stockton shortly after the shooting, stating it was handled by the Stockton Police Department (PD).
- Stockton PD Arrests: An overnight statement from Stockton PD confirmed that officers detained five suspects—Issac Grosvenor (27), Destiny Willis (32), Kevin Le (22), Jovon Frank (19), and a 16-year-old male—after responding to a report of several armed subjects. The suspects were arrested for conspiracy, weapon, and gang charges, and two firearms were located. The Sheriff did not link these arrests directly to the mass shooting.
- Reward Increased: The Mayor of Stockton, Christina Fugazi, has increased the reward for pertinent information leading to the apprehension of the shooters to $25,000. The Sheriff made it clear that detectives would only release photos of the suspects if they required public assistance in identifying them.
The hunt for the shooters remains the top priority for law enforcement in San Joaquin County.