Some neighbors and community leaders came together in Fairfield Sunday night for a community vigil following Friday’s mass shooting inside a Spirit Halloween store.
One woman, 31-year-old Constance Hages, was killed in the shooting. Her family members told police that she was pregnant. Six other people were injured.
Sunday’s vigil, hosted by the Solano County organization Broken By Violence, was held to offer a safe space for people to grieve, pray, and process.
News of Friday’s shooting felt especially close to home for many in the area who have shopped at the mall before or visited that very store to shop for Halloween costumes.
“People don’t feel safe in our community,” said Joy Forte, president of Broken By Violence. “Just a simple going to get a Halloween costume or whatever, and people’s lives are lost, and people are impacted.”
“Senseless,” she emphasized.
The vigil partnered with local groups that provide resources, including Napa-Solano County SANE-SART, which provides forensic and mental health services.
“One bullet moves through an entire community,” said Kari Cordero with SANE-SART.
At the vigil, many people said they felt especially fearful or upset in light of several recent instances of gun violence in Solano County.
On Halloween, Vallejo police said a man died after being shot. Also on Halloween, Vacaville police said a 15-year-old boy was shot and is currently recovering.
“I’m tired of the pattern,” Cordero said. “Something terrible happens, we gather, we light candles, leaders step up to the microphone and say this isn’t going to happen again, and here we are yet again.”
People at the vigil called for more funding for violence prevention efforts and staff, as well as more investment in community patrols.
The Spirit store in Fairfield remained closed Sunday, with a small memorial growing outside the door.
Fairfield police said Sunday that four of the six people who were injured in the shooting were still in the hospital. One of those people, a 19-year-old man, was in critical condition.
Police have not made any arrests in the shooting or shared details about any potential suspects.
