In a startling incident over the weekend, the residence of Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi became an unintended target in a nearby shooting, believed to be related to gang activity. This was confirmed by Fugazi’s office as authorities continue to investigate the event.
According to the Stockton Police Department, officers arrived on the scene shortly before 2 a.m. on October 18, responding to reports of gunshots. Upon their arrival, they discovered that two teenagers, aged 17 and 18, had sustained gunshot wounds. Fortunately, their injuries were not life-threatening. During the course of their investigation, detectives uncovered that a stray bullet from the same incident had struck Mayor Fugazi’s home.
Despite the unnerving nature of the event, police have assured that there is no indication the shooting was a deliberate attack on the mayor or had any political motivations. At this point, no arrests have been made as the investigation is still underway.
Mayor Fugazi expressed relief that her family was unharmed, although she acknowledged the incident was deeply unsettling. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive issues of gang violence affecting communities across California.
California mayor Christina Fugazi’s home was hit by a stray bullet during what her office said is believed to be a “gang-related” shooting. (KTXL)
Fugazi said her family was unharmed, though the discovery was alarming.
“This could have killed somebody in my household, even myself,” Fugazi told KCRA.
She told the outlet that at first she thought the sounds were fireworks.
“We heard the pop pop pop pop pop, and we thought it was fireworks at first,” she said. “It wasn’t until I got the notification from the police department that, no, indeed, it was a shooting.”
Physical evidence confirmed the gunfire.
Stockton mayor Christina Fugazi was unharmed after a bullet hit her California home during a weekend shooting. (KTXL)
“We saw the hole in the window,” Fugazi said. “Then later on, we also found a number of shell casings.”
In a written statement, Fugazi thanked the Stockton Police Department for its quick response.
“First, I want to thank the men and women of the Stockton Police Department for their swift response and diligent work apprehending one of the suspects,” she said. “Their dedication to protecting and serving the people of Stockton is a major reason we’ve seen significant reductions in crime this year.”
A bullet struck Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi’s home while she slept during what her office is calling a nearby gang-related shooting. (KTXL)
Fugazi noted that Stockton has seen nearly a 50% drop in crime this year, crediting the Police Department, the Office of Violence Prevention and city leadership for the progress.
“I never thought that there would be a bullet, a random bullet coming into my house, into the bedroom,” she said. “This shooting is a reminder that none of us are immune from the impacts of crime, regardless of our position or title. This incident only strengthens my commitment to ensuring every neighborhood in Stockton is safe and livable for all our residents.”
The Stockton Police Department said it cannot confirm any victim identity due to victim confidentiality, even though the mayor publicly identified herself as the resident.
Anyone with information about the shooting can contact the Stockton Police Department’s Investigation Division at (209) 937-8377 or Stockton Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
