Constance Hages Death: Woman Killed in Fairfield Spirit Halloween Shooting
Constance Hages, 31, has been identified as the woman killed in Friday night’s shooting at a Spirit Halloween store in Fairfield, California. Her family told police she was pregnant when she died.
Six other people were wounded in the shooting at Solano Town Center. The victims ranged in age from 16 to 43, with four still hospitalized as of Saturday. Two others had been treated and released.
Family tells police Hages was pregnant
Fairfield police identified Hages on Saturday as investigators continued examining the shooting. Authorities said the information about her pregnancy came from relatives and would be confirmed through an examination by the Solano County Coroner.
Officers responded to reports of gunfire inside the costume store at about 8:30 p.m. Friday, October 30. Seven people had suffered gunshot wounds. Hages died, and the six surviving victims were taken to local hospitals.
According to the police update reported by NBC Bay Area, a boy aged 16 and two men, aged 19 and 32, remained in critical condition. A man aged 23 was hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
The two victims released after treatment were men aged 19 and 43. Police had not publicly released the names of the six people who survived.
Detectives investigate a targeted shooting
Investigators believe the shooting involved one suspect and began as a targeted incident inside Spirit Halloween.
Authorities had not announced an arrest as of Saturday and were reviewing video footage and other evidence to identify the person responsible.
Police had not publicly identified the suspect or explained who was targeted. Detectives said they were still examining evidence and were not releasing further details about the incident at that stage.
The FBI’s Sacramento office sent its Evidence Response Team to assist Fairfield police. The investigation continued as authorities asked people with information to come forward.
Witness accounts described shoppers trying to escape. David Bernal told KCRA that his wife had been near the store’s wig section when she heard loud bangs. She left through an emergency exit, according to CNN, which reported his account.
Witness Miena Davis told KCRA that shoppers fled after hearing repeated popping sounds and escaped by forcing open a gate leading into the mall.
Mall cancels its Halloween celebration
Solano Town Center canceled its scheduled Halloween trick or treating event following the shooting.
The shopping center said it would remain open during regular business hours on Saturday. Fairfield is about 37 miles southwest of Sacramento, between the state capital and San Francisco.
Spirit Halloween said its Fairfield store would stay closed out of respect for those affected and to support the investigation.
The company also said it was cooperating with local law enforcement and expressed sympathy for the victims’ families.
Fairfield police acknowledged the fear the shooting had caused, particularly with Halloween celebrations planned across the community. The department urged residents to remain alert, look out for one another and report suspicious activity. Associated Press
Mayor Rick Vaccaro also called on local Fairfield residents to support each other. Speaking Saturday, he said the shooting would remain on the community’s mind and described the way residents look after one another as one of the city’s greatest strengths.
Anyone with information about the shooting can contact Fairfield police at 707 428 7600 or email 1030mall@fairfield.ca.gov.
