STOCKTON, Calif — A 20-year-old woman is dead and a 16-year-old boy is in custody after a double shooting in Stockton, police said.
Police say the 16-year-old boy and a unknown man met up with two women, ages 20 and 18, in the area of Albany Drive and Astor Drive Tuesday evening.
The two men are accused of shooting at the two women, causing the 20-year-old woman to be fatally injured.
During the shooting, the 16-year-old boy was hit by gunfire and found near the scene. He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
He is now facing charges in connection with the 20-year-old woman's death. The other man who left the scene has not been found yet.
The woman's death marks the 30th homicide this year in Stockton.
A family was left grieving Tuesday night in the area, waiting for hours to identify the body and confirm their worst nightmare.
Family members who showed up at the crime scene said they believed the victim was their 21-year-old niece, noting that the car belongs to her and they cannot get in touch with her.
At this time, family members said the mother has not been able to identify the body.
STOCKTON CRIME IN CONTEXT
The increase in homicide cases in Stockton during the early months of 2022 came on the heels of a decline in 2021, where police reported fewer homicides ending the year with a total of 38 cases.
While that’s not the lowest number the department has dealt with in the past 12 years, it is below the annual average of 40 homicide cases per year since 1995.
In response to the rise in homicides, community groups held prayer vigils and outreach events meant to unite Stockton residents against violence.
Activists have called on the community to show up to such events and work with local organizations such as Advance Peace, Faith in the Valley, Lighthouse of the Valley and the Office of Violence Prevention to discourage crime and help impacted communities heal.
Click here for a map of crime statistics.
In an interview with ABC10 in March, Stockton City Manager Harry Black said the Stockton Police Department is trying to prevent more deaths by working more on intelligence gathering and cooperating with federal partners such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshall's Service.
The city is also working to improve its crime prevention, intervention and fighting strategy, Black said. Representatives with the city's Office of Violence Prevention are working to be more present in communities impacted by crime. The office's 'peacekeepers program' places mediators and mentors in high crime areas.
Watch the full interview: Stockton City Manager Harry Black talks recent crime in the city | Extended Interview
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