Shooting Inside California Halloween Store Leaves Pregnant Woman Dead, Six Injured As Panic Erupts

California, United States— A gunman opened fire inside a Spirit Halloween store in California on November 1, 2026, killing a pregnant woman and wounding six other people, sending Halloween shoppers fleeing into the parking lot.

The shooting happened around 6:30 p.m., at peak traffic for the seasonal retailer. Witnesses said the store was packed. Costumes, masks, aisles jammed with last-minute buyers. Then shots. Screams. People hit the floor.

Police said the gunman entered, argued near the checkout area, and then pulled a handgun. He fired more than a dozen rounds. The pregnant victim was near the front. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Two children were among the wounded.

Officers arrived within four minutes. They found a chaotic scene. Blood on the floor. Fallen costume racks. A mother holding a child outside. Paramedics triaged victims inside the store before moving them out through the rear exit.

"This was a crowded store on Halloween weekend. We have a pregnant woman who did not survive and six others hurt," a police lieutenant said at an evening press conference. He said the suspect fled on foot before patrol units arrived.

The store manager locked the doors after the shooter left, according to an employee who spoke to investigators. Security footage shows the gunman wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt. Police said they have a clear image of his face but have not released it.

California retail shootings have risen on high-traffic shopping days. Spirit Halloween, a temporary chain that takes over empty storefronts, rarely has armed guards. Staff are seasonal workers. Training is limited to basic loss prevention.

Detectives collected shell casings, pulled register data, and interviewed more than 30 witnesses. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was called to trace the weapon. A nearby gas station camera captured a man running from the area.

Hospitals reported three victims in critical condition. Two others were stable. One was treated and released. Families gathered at the hospital lobby. Victim advocates arrived.

Police asked for public help and kept the shopping center closed. The suspect remained at large late Saturday.