Witnesses described a frantic escape from the Spirit Halloween store as investigators searched for a suspect in the deadly shooting.
FAIRFIELD, Calif. — Shoppers who were inside a Spirit Halloween store when gunfire erupted described dropping for cover and scrambling toward an improvised escape route, while a Fairfield mall canceled its Halloween event after the shooting left one woman dead and six other people wounded.
The shooting broke out about 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, inside the seasonal store at Solano Town Center. Fairfield police identified the woman who died as 31-year-old Constance Hages. Her family told investigators she was pregnant, a detail police said would be confirmed through the Solano County coroner. Six male victims ranging in age from 16 to 43 were also shot.
Witnesses said the first sounds of gunfire caused confusion before another burst sent shoppers running. Miena Davis, who was inside the store, told KCRA that customers initially froze before realizing they needed to flee. She described the scene as “immediate panic” as families searched for a way out.
One escape route developed around a security gate connecting the store with the rest of the mall. Witness Javier Espinoza said he and another person lifted the barrier enough for people to get underneath it and leave the store. He and his girlfriend were then directed through an employee area and toward an emergency exit.
Video obtained after the shooting showed shoppers crouching for cover as gunfire could be heard. Emergency radio traffic also documented authorities working to clear people from the mall while officers moved through the shopping center. Witnesses outside described seeing a large police response arrive as people streamed away from the building.
The shooting occurred during one of the busiest periods of the year for a seasonal Halloween retailer, with customers making last-minute purchases before the holiday. Solano Town Center remained open Saturday but canceled its planned Mall-O-Ween trick-or-treating event. The Spirit Halloween location involved in the shooting remained closed in the latest reporting.
Police said investigators believe the shooting was targeted and involved one suspect. Authorities had not publicly identified the suspected shooter or announced an arrest as of Sunday morning. Police also had not disclosed who may have been targeted or what investigators believe prompted the gunfire.
Three wounded victims — a 16-year-old boy and men ages 19 and 32 — were listed in critical condition in the latest official update. A 23-year-old man was in critical but stable condition. Two other victims, men ages 19 and 43, were treated and released from the hospital.
The FBI’s Sacramento office is assisting Fairfield police with the investigation. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage, witness information and other evidence from the store and surrounding shopping center as they work to identify the person responsible.
The immediate evacuation has ended, but the investigation remains active. No arrest had been announced by Sunday morning, leaving investigators focused on identifying the suspect while the Fairfield community deals with the aftermath of the shooting and the disruption of Halloween activities at one of its major shopping centers.
Author note: Last updated November 1, 2026.