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After mass shooting that killed four children, residents urge Stockton to restore and fund violence-prevention programs
Summary
Family members and gun-violence advocates urged Stockton council to fully staff and fund the Office of Violence Prevention and revive proven interventions such as Operation Ceasefire and Advance Peace following a recent mass shooting that left four children dead.
Dozens of residents filled the council chambers on Dec. 9 to urge immediate and sustained action after a shooting that killed four children at a birthday party. Speakers called for restored funding and staffing for city violence-prevention programs and for partnerships with community organizations that have shown results.
"Death by gun violence is the number one killer of children in our country," said Nikki Smith, president of Cleveland School Remembers, reading a prepared statement and urging the council to "fully fund the Office of Violence Prevention" and bring back organizations such as Advance Peace and CeaseSpire.
Deborah Ellison, a lifelong Stockton resident and a survivor of gun violence, told the council the city must check whether federal funding cuts have affected local intervention programs and "develop a plan to fill any funding gaps, whether through city resources, state grants, and community partnerships." She said families deserve quick, sustained support.
Community organizers and residents repeatedly urged the council to rebuild focused-deterrence approaches and to restore a fully staffed OVP. "We need to rebuild Operation Ceasefire in its fourth generation with fidelity, full staffing, regular shooting reviews and constant consistent engagement with our folks on the ground," said David Singh Thai, who presented historical homicide data and emphasized evidence-based methods.
Speakers also raised separate but related complaints: delays in homicide investigations, a perceived lack of police staffing, and concerns about how recent public events were handled in the wake of the tragedy. Families of other victims urged transparency and timely updates from investigators.
City officials said they are coordinating with county and state partners. The mayor and city manager said they have made requests to state and federal agencies for assistance and emphasized a mix of short-term support for victims (mental-health services, temporary housing, and city-run referrals) and longer-term investment in prevention programs.
Mayor Christina Fugazi noted city resources and partnerships—her office and the police and sheriff's departments have been in contact with state and federal authorities—and highlighted the city's existing programs. The council also agreed to list mental-health referral resources (Care Solace) on the city website for residents seeking help.
Council members said they would follow up on operational and budget questions, and several said they were open to considering additional funding for violence-prevention programs, subject to staff recommendations and budget constraints. The council closed the meeting with a moment of silence for the victims and directed staff to continue interagency coordination.
