FAIRFIELD, CA – A high school graduation celebration turned into a tragedy on Wednesday night when gunfire erupted outside a Solano County stadium, leaving one person dead and three others injured.
Violence Erupts After Commencement
The shooting occurred shortly after the conclusion of the commencement ceremony for Sem Yeto High School, which was hosted at Fairfield High School’s Schafer Stadium. According to school district officials, the graduation event had already ended, and families were gathered in the parking lot taking photos when the shots rang out.
Witnesses described a scene of immediate panic. “I heard gunshots and immediately started running,” said one father who was attending the event to support a graduating friend.
Emergency Response and Active Investigation
The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District confirmed that law enforcement swarmed the campus immediately following the incident. Just after 8:00 p.m., Suisun City Mayor Alma Hernandez announced the casualty count and confirmed that an active investigation was underway.
Later in the evening, Mayor Hernandez indicated that an active law enforcement chase related to the incident was moving through Fairfield, though specific details regarding suspects have not yet been released.
Community Traumatized
A livestream of the graduation ceremony reviewed by local media showed that the event itself concluded peacefully without any gunfire audio. The violence was entirely contained to the exterior parking lot area.
“Kind of traumatized for everyone here who had to witness it. It’s outrageous,” said Fairfield Police Officer Michelle Belyea. “It’s sad. Prayers for everyone affected by it.”
The Fairfield Police Department has not released any suspect descriptions or motives as the search for the shooter continues. Authorities are urging anyone who witnessed the parking lot altercation or has smartphone video of the incident to contact local police immediately.
