A shooting at a Spirit Halloween store in Fairfield, California, on Friday evening left one dead and six injured. The violence erupted around 8:30 p.m. inside the pop-up seasonal shop located at the Solano Town Center mall.
David Bernal told reporters that his wife was shopping when the gunfire started. “She’s at home right now, still in shock,” Bernal said, adding that she heard “five big bangs, big ones, like loud.” The store was packed with customers when the shots rang out, sending shoppers fleeing for their lives.
Another witness described the chaos to KCRA after his wife escaped the scene. “Well, she just told me she heard some shots and the people running, yelling and crying already,” he said, according to the New York Post. His wife managed to get “out from one of the exits on the other side of the mall,” Bernal told ABC 10, according to the New York Post.
Authorities confirmed that one victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Six other people were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Three of those injured remain in critical condition according to police reports.
Police have not yet detained anyone for the horrific shooting. Fairfield Police Chief Dan Marshall addressed the public at a press conference on Friday. He stated that investigators are working quickly to find the person responsible.
“This is still a very active crime scene.” Chief Marshall stated that detectives are talking to witnesses and working hard to find the suspect behind this terrible shooting. Officers did not confirm if there was a single gunman or multiple suspects involved in the attack.
The temporary store had taken over a space previously occupied by a Best Buy. The mall complex holds approximately 130 different stores. This incident follows a separate fatal shooting at a Spirit Halloween location in Michigan earlier that same day.
Local families are now left to process the sudden loss of life in their community. The investigation remains open as detectives gather evidence from the mall floor. No motive has been released by authorities at this time.
Residents are urged to be cautious while the manhunt continues for the suspect. The Fairfield Police Department will provide updates as more information becomes available to them. Safety remains the top priority for everyone in the area.
