A Halloween shopping trip turned into a nightmare after a gunman allegedly opened fire inside a crowded Spirit Halloween store in California, killing a pregnant mother of four and her unborn baby while injuring six other people. Now, a 17-year-old suspect is facing multiple murder charges as prosecutors push to have him tried as an adult.
The deadly shooting happened Friday night, October 30, inside the Spirit Halloween store at Solano Town Center in Fairfield, California. According to investigators, more than 100 people, including families with children, were inside the store when gunfire suddenly erupted around 8:30 p.m.
Authorities identified the woman killed in the shooting as 31-year-old Constance Hages, who was 13 weeks pregnant at the time. Her death has left behind four children and grieving family members who are now trying to cope with the devastating loss.
According to investigators, the shooting may have stemmed from a confrontation involving another customer inside the store. Police believe the suspect entered the business, spotted someone he allegedly had a previous issue with, and opened fire.
Prosecutors say the intended target was among the people struck by the gunfire. However, Hages was also caught in the shooting, along with five other victims.
Witnesses described a terrifying scene as shoppers scrambled to escape. Parents were reportedly trying to protect their children as people ran through the store and into the surrounding mall after hearing multiple gunshots.
Investigators say the suspect fled the scene before officers arrived. Police believe he acted alone and began reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses as they worked to identify the person responsible.
The investigation eventually led authorities to a 17-year-old suspect, who was arrested at his home in Suisun City on November 2.
According to Fairfield police, a school resource officer played an important role in identifying the teenager. After reviewing surveillance footage from inside the store, the officer reportedly recognized the suspect as a former student and passed that information along to detectives.
The case took another serious turn when the Solano County District Attorney’s Office announced that the teenager had been formally charged with two counts of murder, including a special-circumstance allegation involving multiple murders.
Prosecutors also filed three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon, and several firearm-related enhancements. The second murder count is connected to the death of Hages’ unborn child.
Authorities also revealed that the teenager had a previous criminal history involving a separate shooting near Fairfield High School in 2025.
According to police and prosecutors, the suspect had previously been arrested in connection with that incident, spent several months in juvenile detention, and was later released. He was reportedly on probation when the Spirit Halloween shooting occurred.
Now, prosecutors are asking the court to transfer the teenager’s case from juvenile court to adult court, arguing that the seriousness of the alleged crimes, his previous record, and concerns about public safety warrant a tougher legal process.
The request has not yet been approved. Under California law, a judge must determine whether the teenager can be transferred to adult court. Prosecutors cannot simply move the case there on their own.
The suspect made his first appearance in juvenile court on November 4. His arraignment was postponed until November 13 to allow his public defender additional time to review police reports and video evidence.
The judge also denied the defense’s request for a home placement and ordered the teenager to remain in juvenile detention without bail while the case moves forward.
Meanwhile, the six other shooting victims were taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds. They ranged in age from 16 to 43. Several were initially reported in critical condition, while others were eventually released after receiving treatment.
The tragedy has also left Hages’ family facing an uncertain future. A family member launched a fundraiser to help support her four children following her death, as relatives and loved ones attempt to navigate life without her.
What should have been a routine trip to purchase Halloween costumes turned into a deadly tragedy for multiple families. Investigators believe the shooting was sparked by a personal dispute involving another customer, but the consequences reached far beyond the person the suspect allegedly intended to target.
As the legal process continues, prosecutors are preparing to argue that the 17-year-old should face the charges as an adult. His next juvenile court hearing is scheduled for November 13.
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