FAIRFIELD, Calif. — A 17-year-old boy was taken into custody Monday in connection with a mass shooting at a Spirit Halloween store in Northern California that killed a pregnant woman and wounded six others, authorities said.
The suspect was arrested Nov. 2 at a residence in Suisun City, three days after the Oct. 30 attack at the Solano Town Center mall in Fairfield, according to the Fairfield Police Department. Because of his age, his name has not been released. He was booked on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
The shooting unfolded around 8:30 p.m. at the Spirit Halloween store on Travis Boulevard, where shoppers were buying last-minute costumes. Officers arrived to find seven people with gunshot wounds. Investigators say the gunman entered the store, identified someone he believed to be his intended target and opened fire, striking that person and six bystanders before fleeing.
The woman killed was identified by her family as 31-year-old Constance Hages, who was pregnant. Citing police sources, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Hages was the intended target and that the shooting may have followed an earlier dispute. Authorities have not disclosed how the teenager and the victim knew each other or what their relationship was.
Six other victims — all males between the ages of 16 and 43 — were taken to hospitals. As of Monday, four remained hospitalized, including a 19-year-old man in critical condition. Three others, ages 16, 23 and 32, were listed in stable condition. Two additional victims, ages 19 and 43, were treated and released.
Detectives identified the alleged shooter within hours after reviewing surveillance footage from inside the store. A school resource officer recognized the teenager as a former student, helping investigators establish his identity, the Chronicle reported.
At a news conference, Fairfield Police Chief Dan Marshall revealed that the teenager had previously been involved in a shooting at Fairfield High School in 2025. The suspect was charged in that case and spent several months in juvenile detention before being released. “This event shouldn’t have even occurred,” Marshall said, criticizing California’s handling of juvenile offenders. He called for changes to the state’s juvenile justice system in the wake of the deadly attack, Bay City News Service reported.
Investigators believe the suspect acted alone, though they are examining whether anyone else may have been involved. The Solano County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case, including whether Hages’ pregnancy could support an additional murder charge. Formal charging decisions had not been announced as of Monday evening. The FBI is assisting in the ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact Fairfield police at [email protected] or 707-428-7600.
Meanwhile, California’s political landscape remains turbulent, with key House races drawing national attention and the governor’s race tightening as polls close. In a separate legal battle, the Supreme Court rejected an effort to isolate thousands of California ballots, underscoring the state’s outsized role in national politics.
