Four people died after 14 people were shot at a family gathering in Stockton in California’s Central Valley on Saturday night, police said.

The shooting took place at a child’s birthday party, Stockton‘s Vice Mayor Jason Lee said in a Facebook post.

“I am in contact with staff and public safety officials to understand exactly what happened, and I will be pushing for answers,” he said.

Police said they received reports shortly before 6:00 p.m. local time (0200 GMT) of a shooting that occurred near the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue in Stockton.

“We can confirm at this time that approximately 14 individuals were struck by gunfire, and four victims have been confirmed deceased,” San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on X.

“This is a very active and ongoing investigation, and information remains limited. Early indications suggest this may be a targeted incident, and investigators are exploring all possibilities.”

Authorities have not provided any details about a shooter.

“This is horrific. A children’s birthday party on a holiday weekend turned into a scene of a mass shooting – turning a celebration into a nightmare. My heart goes out to the families of those killed, the injured, and the survivors,” said former Congresswoman and anti-gun violence activist Gabby Giffords. “While we await for more information on the shooting, what is painfully obvious is that we need our federal leaders to act to stop gun violence. Kids shouldn’t have to fear for their lives when celebrating their birthdays.”

(GV Wire contributed to this article.)

(Reporting by Preetika Parashuraman in Bengaluru; Editing by Michael Perry)