A toddler celebrating her 2nd birthday was getting ready to cut her cake when the gunshots rang out in California over the weekend, killing four people, including three kids.
The birthday girl’s mother, Patrice Williams, said partygoers dropped to the ground as soon as the gunshots rang out inside the packed banquet hall in Stockton on Saturday.
“I actually thought it was my balloons popping. It was gunshots,” Williams said.
“It was just unexpected. I don’t know what happened, and I’m just so shocked and lost.”
Three children ages 8, 9 and 14 and a 21-year-old were killed, authorities said. Another 11 were wounded, including one who is in a critical condition.
Williams, whose daughter wasn’t injured in the ordeal, said she didn’t get a good look at the perp responsible — and has no idea who would target a child’s party.
“They deserve to be in jail. They deserve to go to hell,” she said.
“I’m sorry, but I just … it’s not respectable. It’s a kids’ party.”
Authorities haven’t identified any suspects but have indicted the shooting was gang-related.
Among those gunned down was 14-year-old Amari Peterson and 21-year-old Susano Archuleta.
With Post wires
