Teen Charged in Spirit Halloween Shooting That Killed Pregnant Mother

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a shooting at a Spirit Halloween store in Fairfield, California, that killed a pregnant mother of four and wounded six other people, according to Fairfield police. Prosecutors are seeking to move his case to adult court, a decision that rests with a judge.

What happened

The gunfire broke out around 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 30 at the store inside Solano Town Center. Police say the teen walked in, singled out another customer, and opened fire, hitting that person and six others. Constance Hages, 31, died at the scene. Police confirmed she was pregnant.

The suspect left within minutes, arriving officers said, just as they reached the store. A school resource officer reviewing store surveillance video recognized him as a former student and alerted detectives. That identification came within hours of the first 911 call, and police later found him at a home in neighboring Suisun City. He was arrested Nov. 2.

The Solano County District Attorney’s Office charged him with two counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon and multiple gun enhancements. Prosecutors also filed a multiple-murder special circumstance allegation and cited a prior violent offense conviction described as a strike; the office did not name the underlying offense. An arraignment and detention hearing was set for Nov. 4 at 9 a.m.

Police say the teen had been arrested before in a 2025 shooting in a local high school parking lot after school hours. He was sentenced and later released, the department said. Police have not identified that school or said when he was released.

Why it matters

The case has become a flashpoint over how the justice system handles young people accused of gun violence. Fairfield Police Chief Dan Marshall said, according to KTVU, that “it’s time for change in California” and asked how many more people must die “at the hands of youth.” The district attorney’s office said the seriousness of the crimes, the teen’s record and the risk to the public justify keeping him detained.

For the victims’ families, the consequences are concrete: four children lost their mother, and a fundraising page organized by Hages’ aunt, Clanisha Morton, is collecting money for funeral costs and the children’s care. “Constance was deeply loved, and her absence has created an overwhelming void in the lives of everyone who knew and cherished her,” Morton wrote.

Whether the teen is tried as an adult is not settled. The request needs a judge’s approval, and no ruling had been announced at the time of the charging announcement.

Key facts at a glance

What this means for you

• If you were near Solano Town Center on Oct. 30: Fairfield police ask anyone with information to call 707-428-7600 or email 1030mall@fairfield.ca.gov.
• If you are following the case: the adult-court request is a judge’s decision, not automatic, so the Nov. 4 hearing is the next formal step to watch.
• If you want to help the family: a GoFundMe organized by Hages’ aunt is raising money for funeral expenses and her children’s care.

Frequently asked questions

What is the teen charged with?

Two counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon and multiple gun enhancements, plus a multiple-murder special circumstance allegation, according to the district attorney’s office.

Will he be tried as an adult?

Prosecutors have asked a judge to move the case to adult court. The request requires judicial approval, and no decision had been announced.

What happened in the earlier shooting case?

Police say he was arrested in a 2025 shooting in a local high school parking lot after school hours, received a sentence and was later released. The school and release date have not been disclosed.

How were the wounded victims doing?

In a Saturday update, police said a 16-year-old boy, a 19-year-old man and a 32-year-old man were in critical condition, and a 23-year-old man was critical but stable. Two other men, 19 and 43, were treated and released.

What to watch next

The Nov. 4 arraignment and detention hearing, where prosecutors will argue for continued custody. A judge’s ruling on the adult-court request is also pending. Police have not identified the intended target or a motive, and the investigation remains open.