Pregnant Mother of Four Killed in Alleged Targeted Halloween Store Shooting by 17-Year-Old Suspect

A pregnant mother of four was shot dead inside a Halloween costume store in California after a teenage gunman allegedly entered the shop and opened fire in what police believe was a targeted attack.

Constance Hages, 31, was shopping at a Spirit Halloween store inside Solano Town Center in Fairfield on Friday evening, October 30, when the shooting erupted.

The attack happened at approximately 8:30 p.m., as families were visiting the store to buy last-minute Halloween costumes and decorations.

According to investigators, the suspected gunman entered the store, spotted a customer believed to be his intended target and pulled out a firearm before firing multiple rounds.

Hages was struck and died at the scene. Her family told authorities she was pregnant at the time of her death.

Six other people were wounded in the shooting, including a 16-year-old boy and several adult men. The gunfire triggered panic as shoppers and employees scrambled for cover, with some desperately trying to escape through the store’s rear security barrier.

Witnesses described hearing multiple rounds of gunfire followed by screaming and people running through the shopping centre.

One shopper, Javier Espinoza, was inside the store with his girlfriend when the shooting began. They initially thought the noises might be fireworks before realizing someone was firing a gun. They hid behind the store’s security barrier and eventually managed to escape underneath it.

The suspect fled before officers arrived, but investigators identified him within hours after reviewing surveillance footage. A school resource officer reportedly recognized him as a former student and provided information to detectives.

On Monday, November 2, police arrested a 17-year-old boy at a residence in nearby Suisun City. Authorities have not publicly released his name because he is a minor.

Investigators said the teenager had previously been arrested in connection with a separate shooting near a local high school in 2025.

Prosecutors subsequently filed two counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and three counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon, alongside additional firearm-related enhancements. They are also seeking to have the teenager tried as an adult.

Authorities have not publicly established a motive for the attack, although police believe it stemmed from a prior disagreement involving the intended victim.

Hages’ death has devastated her family, who are now left grieving a woman who was expecting another child. Her aunt described the loss as heartbreaking, saying the family was struggling to cope with the tragedy.

The Spirit Halloween store was closed following the shooting, while the shopping centre cancelled its planned Halloween celebrations.

The investigation is continuing as prosecutors pursue the case against the teenage suspect.