Teen shooter in Fairfield Spirit Halloween attack faces second murder charge over unborn child
A 17-year-old suspect in the fatal Fairfield Spirit Halloween shooting now faces a second murder charge after the victim's unborn child also died. Prosecutors are seeking to try the teen in adult court.
Second murder charge filed against teen in Fairfield Spirit Halloween shooting
A 17-year-old accused of opening fire inside a Spirit Halloween store in Fairfield, California — killing a pregnant woman and wounding six others — now faces a second murder charge following the death of her unborn child, abc7news.com reports.
Prosecutors revealed in juvenile court on Wednesday that the victim, Constance Hages, 31, was 13 weeks pregnant at the time of the shooting. Because the pregnancy had progressed beyond the embryonic stage, the Solano County District Attorney's office said it has grounds to pursue an additional murder count.
The suspect, who has not been named due to his age, entered the store armed with a semi-automatic handgun. According to prosecutors, he was accompanied by a girl when he spotted someone he recognised in the checkout line and opened fire.
The same court session saw the Solano County District Attorney file a petition to have the case transferred to adult court, citing the teen's prior criminal history. Court records indicate he served time last year after shooting into a vehicle in a Fairfield High School car park while people were inside.
Legal analyst Steven Clark told abc7news.com that the distinction between the two jurisdictions is significant. "The difference between adult court and juvenile court for this individual means the potential for a life sentence versus getting out when he's 25 years old," Clark said. Only a juvenile court judge can approve such a transfer, a process that Clark said could take several months and requires the completion of multiple evaluations.
Clark acknowledged the hurdles facing the prosecution. "It's going to be difficult for the prosecution, but at the same time, I think it is the type of case that the public is saying, enough is enough," he said. Despite those challenges, Clark indicated he believes a transfer to adult court is the likely outcome given the severity of the shooting and the suspect's record.
Shawn M. Richard, of Brothers Against Guns — a Bay Area group that works with incarcerated juveniles — said the case underscored the need for tougher legislation around youth gun violence. "For a 17-year-old to shoot a pregnant lady, that's unacceptable. The laws need to be stiffer for young adults and young people that are using guns — they need to understand that this is a serious offense," Richard said. He added that the suspect's prior conviction made the outcome all the more troubling. "He should have known better," Richard said.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)