Teen charged with murder in Spirit Halloween mass shooting in Fairfield, CA
Monte Smith, 17, pleaded not guilty to murder charges after allegedly shooting a pregnant woman dead and wounding six others at a Fairfield mall store.
Suspect in Fairfield Halloween Store Shooting Enters Not Guilty Plea
Monte Smith, 17, appeared in court this week to plead not guilty to murder charges stemming from an Oct. 30 mass shooting inside a Spirit Halloween store at Fairfield's Solano Town Center mall, NY Post Metro reports. Prosecutors are seeking to have him tried as an adult.
Smith faces two counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and three counts of assault with a semi-automatic weapon in connection with the attack, which unfolded while more than 100 shoppers — including families with children — browsed Halloween costumes inside the store.
One murder count relates to Constance Hages, 31, who was 13 weeks pregnant when she was shot and killed. Prosecutors also charged Smith in connection with the death of her unborn child.
According to prosecutors, Smith entered the store to confront a man with whom he had a prior dispute and opened fire. Six others were wounded in the attack, among them a 16-year-old boy and five men between the ages of 19 and 43.
Smith was allegedly already on probation for a previous shooting at the time of the attack. Authorities say he fired into a vehicle occupied by other teenagers in the parking lot of Fairfield High School in 2025 and subsequently spent several months in juvenile detention before being released.
Prosecutors are now pushing to move the case to adult court. "The law guiding the prosecution of minors has shifted substantially over the last 30 years," the Solano County District Attorney's Office said in a statement.
A report expected early next year will help determine whether Smith should face adult charges, prosecutors said. He remains in juvenile hall, and his next court hearing is scheduled for Dec. 10.
Source: NY Post Metro