A 17-year-old California boy is accused of opening fire inside a Spirit Halloween store at Fairfield’s Solano Town Center on Oct. 30. Constance Hages, 31, who was pregnant and the mother of four, was killed, while six other people were wounded. Prosecutors have filed murder and attempted murder charges and are asking a judge to move the case to adult court. The suspect had previously been arrested in connection with a separate shooting at a high school parking lot.
Police arrested Monte Smith on Nov. 2 after investigators identified him through surveillance footage and located him at a residence in neighboring Suisun City. The investigation and court proceedings remain ongoing.
| 1) | The shooting at Solano Town Center |
| 2) | The victim and impact on her family |
| 3) | Arrest and identification of the suspect |
| 4) | Charges and request for adult prosecution |
| 5) | Condition of the surviving victims |
The shooting at Solano Town Center
The shooting occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 30 inside the Spirit Halloween store at Solano Town Center in Fairfield, California. Police allege that Smith entered the store, saw another customer whom investigators believe he intended to target, drew a firearm and fired multiple rounds. The gunfire struck that person and six others. Investigators have not publicly identified the suspected target or explained what may have led to the attack.
Hages died at the scene. Smith allegedly left within minutes as officers arrived and began treating the wounded. The FBI later assisted Fairfield police by helping process part of the crime scene through its Evidence Response Team.
The victim and impact on her family
Hages was 31 and pregnant when she was killed, police confirmed. She also had four children, according to a fundraiser organized by her aunt, Clanisha Morton. The fundraiser is seeking money for funeral expenses and care for the children after the sudden loss.
Morton described Hages as deeply loved and said her death had created an overwhelming void for those who knew her. The family’s account has underscored the lasting personal consequences of the shooting beyond the injuries reported at the store.
“Constance was deeply loved, and her absence has created an overwhelming void in the lives of everyone who knew and cherished her.”
Arrest and identification of the suspect
Police initially withheld the suspect’s name because he was 17. A school resource officer reviewing surveillance video recognized Smith as a former student and alerted detectives. That recognition helped investigators identify him within hours of the emergency calls.
Detectives later found Smith at a residence in Suisun City, a neighboring community, and arrested him on Nov. 2. Fairfield police said Smith had previously been arrested in a 2025 shooting involving gunfire in a local high school parking lot after school hours. He received a sentence in that case and was later released. Police have not identified the school or disclosed when he was released.
Charges and request for adult prosecution
The Solano County District Attorney’s Office charged Smith with two counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and three counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon. The filing also includes multiple firearm enhancements and a multiple-murder special circumstance allegation.
Prosecutors are asking a judge to approve adult-court prosecution. They cited the seriousness of the allegations, Smith’s criminal record and what they described as a threat to public safety in seeking continued detention. The filing also alleges a prior violent-offense conviction classified as a strike, although prosecutors did not specify the underlying offense.
Dan Marshall, Fairfield’s police chief, said the case reflected the need for change in California and expressed concern about deaths involving young people. Smith’s arraignment and detention hearing was scheduled for Nov. 4 at 9 a.m. The adult-court request requires judicial approval.
Condition of the surviving victims
Six surviving victims were taken to hospitals after the shooting. In a Saturday update, police said a 16-year-old boy, a 19-year-old man and a 32-year-old man were in critical condition. A 23-year-old man was listed as critical but stable.
Two other men, ages 19 and 43, were treated for gunshot wounds and released. Police said the arrest did not end the investigation and asked anyone with information to contact the department at 707-428-7600 or 1030mall@fairfield.ca.gov.
| No. | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | One person was killed and six were wounded at a Fairfield Halloween store. |
| 2 | The deceased victim was pregnant and had four children. |
| 3 | A 17-year-old suspect was arrested two days after the shooting. |
| 4 | Prosecutors are seeking adult-court prosecution and continued detention. |
Summary
The Fairfield shooting has resulted in homicide, attempted murder and weapons charges against a teenager who had previously faced a shooting case. The court must now decide whether he will be prosecuted as an adult, while investigators continue gathering evidence and the victims’ families deal with the consequences of the violence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Fairfield store?
Police allege that a gunman fired multiple rounds inside a Spirit Halloween store at Solano Town Center on Oct. 30, killing one person and wounding six others.
Who was killed?
Constance Hages, 31, was killed. Police confirmed she was pregnant, and her family said she had four children.
What charges does the suspect face?
The 17-year-old faces two murder counts, three attempted murder counts, three assault counts involving a semiautomatic weapon, firearm enhancements and a multiple-murder special circumstance allegation.
Will the suspect be tried as an adult?
Prosecutors have requested adult-court prosecution, but a judge must approve that request. An arraignment and detention hearing was scheduled for Nov. 4.
