Police, FBI Pursue Graduation Shooting Suspect As Fairfield Mourns Victims: Report

FAIRFIELD, CA — As investigators comb through surveillance footage and cellphone videos, a grieving community is left searching for answers and struggling to understand how a milestone celebration ended in tragedy Wednesday evening.

One day after a gunman opened fire after a commencement ceremony, killing an 18-year-old graduate and wounding three others, the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District is still under heightened security as police pursued the suspect responsible for the deadly attack.

The FBI, ATF, Solano County Sheriff, and Vacaville police are assisting Fairfield police in the investigation, according to reports. The suspect remains at large, and police have not released a description.

At noon on June 12 the community will gather where the teen was shot, Moy told KTVU.

The shooting happened shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of Fairfield High School at 205 East Atlantic Avenue following a graduation ceremony for Sem Yeto Continuation High School, according to Fairfield Police Officer Michelle Belyea.

Police said the 18-year-old victim died at the scene. Fairfield Mayor Catherine Moy said the young man had just graduated and received his diploma before the shooting. He was still wearing his graduation gown when bullets struck him, according to reports.

Gunfire also injured three additional victims, ages 11, 20, and 25. They are in stable condition, according to reports.

A memorial now grows in the parking lot where families gathered to celebrate academic achievement before the evening descended into chaos.

Moy told reporters that the gunman was very close to the 18-year-old, who was stepping forward for a photo after receiving his diploma. She said police told her the shooter targeted the 18-year-old.

Investigators are interviewing hundreds of people at the ceremony, collecting cellphone recordings, and reviewing surveillance footage in an effort to identify the shooter and the motive.

About 1,000 people attended the graduation ceremony, police said. Witnesses described scenes of panic and heartbreak. KRON4 reported that bystanders saw a mother performing CPR on her son while he still wore his graduation cap and gown, although authorities have not confirmed whether he was the victim who died.

A pastor familiar with the victim's family is helping relatives cope with the tragedy, Moy said.

Despite the violence, local students and families gathered Thursday for additional graduation ceremonies, observing moments of silence before celebrating the Class of 2026. Many said they refused to allow the shooting to overshadow the accomplishments of graduating seniors.

Fairfield police maintained a visible security presence at Thursday's events as the investigation continued.

Moy called for accountability and justice as detectives worked to identify and arrest the gunman.

Anyone with information about the shooting should contact Fairfield police.

Related: Teen Killed, Child, 11, Among 3 Wounded In Bay Area High School Graduation Shooting