Teen suspect in deadly mass shooting at California Halloween store appears in court to face murder charges

Seventeen-year-old Monte Smith pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges over a fatal shooting at a Halloween shop in Fairfield, California. Prosecutors allege he targeted a man involved in a previous dispute and opened fire in a busy store, and are seeking to have him tried as an adult.

The shooting took place on 30 October at a Spirit Halloween store in Solano Town Center mall, where more than 100 shoppers were present. Constance Hages, 31, who was 13 weeks pregnant, and her unborn child died; six other people were wounded. Smith faces two murder counts, three attempted murder counts and three assault counts. He was reportedly on probation for a 2025 shooting at a school car park, and remains in juvenile hall while prosecutors await a report to inform the adult-court decision; his next hearing is 10 December.