One person was killed and six others were wounded when gunfire broke out Friday night inside a Spirit Halloween store at a shopping center in Fairfield, California, according to CNN en Español. The store sits within Solano Town Center, roughly 45 miles northeast of San Francisco.
Fairfield police chief Dan Marshall briefed reporters on the shooting Friday night, the outlet reported. The department said early information points to the violence stemming from a targeted incident involving a single suspect inside the shop.
Why it matters
The shooting landed on the eve of Halloween, one of the busiest stretches of the year for costume retailers, when shoppers typically crowd stores for last-minute purchases. It also adds to a grim national tally: CNN en Español, citing the Gun Violence Archive, reported that at least 388 mass shootings have been recorded across the United States so far this year.
The case also drew federal involvement. The FBI's Sacramento field office said it sent its evidence response team to assist Fairfield police with the investigation, according to the outlet.
Investigators work to identify a suspect
Detectives were actively working the case Friday night and examining evidence in an effort to determine who was responsible, the Fairfield Police Department said. The department said it would not release the names of the victims for the time being.
Marshall's briefing offered few additional details beyond the location and the preliminary assessment that the shooting was targeted. Authorities did not describe a possible motive or say whether anyone had been taken into custody.
Spirit Halloween, the seasonal chain that occupies temporary storefronts each fall, issued a statement saying the company was cooperating fully with local law enforcement as they investigate what happened. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims," the company said, according to CNN en Español. The store will stay closed out of respect for those affected and to support the ongoing investigation, the retailer said.
A witness describes panic near the wig aisle
A man who was at the scene told KCRA, a CNN affiliate, that his wife had been near the store's wig section when the shooting began and ran out through an emergency exit.
David Bernal said his wife heard five loud bangs, which he described as extremely noisy. He said she was home afterward and still in a state of shock. Bernal added that she told him she heard gunfire and saw people running, screaming and crying.
Solano Town Center, which lists more than 130 shops and restaurants on its website, canceled its "Mall-O-Ween!" event that had been set for Saturday afternoon, a program that included trick-or-treating for children throughout the property. The mall said it would remain open during regular hours on Halloween.
The shooting drew widespread coverage in Spanish-language media, with outlets including Telemundo, Reforma and Quadratín México reporting the death and injuries. Yahoo also reported that two shootings at costume shops in the United States left two people dead and eight wounded.
CNN en Español described the story as developing and said it would be updated as more information became available.
What to watch: whether Fairfield police identify a suspect or announce an arrest, and whether the department releases further details on the victims or a possible motive.
