Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 12:21
Stockton, California, experienced a deadly June as homicides soared to levels not seen in nearly a decade. Police Chief Stanley McFadden has vowed to crack down on the surge, which left seven dead and eight others wounded. The violence has continued into July, with two more men killed in separate shootings on July 5.
According to Stockton Police Department data, June 2025 saw seven homicides—a dramatic increase from the single homicide recorded in June 2024. Non-fatal shootings also rose to eight, compared to five the previous year. The department noted that homicides had been down nearly 50% through May, but June erased those gains, bringing the year-to-date total to 16 killings.
In a statement, Chief McFadden called the violence “senseless” and declared that “violent crime will not be tolerated.” He did not detail specific enforcement measures but emphasized a department-wide commitment to addressing the crisis.
A Stocktonia review of incident locations indicates that most homicides occurred in City Council District 5, covering downtown and parts of south Stockton. Two additional killings took place in District 1, in north Stockton. One of the most serious non-fatal shootings happened on June 26 on Plantation Place, injuring four people, including children and an infant.
Antonio “Tone” Hernandez, an outreach worker with the city’s Office of Violence Prevention, described the toll: “It’s young people and families being torn apart, and it breaks my heart every time.” The violence has left families grieving and the community on edge.
The deadly trend has extended into July. On July 5, 2025, two men were killed in separate shootings. The first occurred at 12:15 a.m. in the 200 block of East March Lane, near a Food 4 Less. A 42-year-old man was found suffering from a gunshot wound and later died at a hospital. The second shooting was reported at 3 a.m. in the 7900 block of Montgomery Avenue, where a 36-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound and also died at a hospital. Detectives are investigating both incidents, and the names of the victims have not been released pending notification of next of kin.
Stockton, located in San Joaquin County, has struggled with violent crime for years. The June surge marks the deadliest month in the city since 2015, when six or more homicides were last recorded in a single June. The spike comes despite overall declines in non-fatal shootings this year (43 in 2025 vs. 48 in 2024 through June).
As Stockton grapples with this surge, residents and officials alike are calling for sustained action. The Police Department’s promised crackdown will be closely watched in the coming months to see if it can stem the tide of violence.
