A California teen released after a prior shooting arrest is now accused of gunning down a pregnant mother of four at a Spirit Halloween store, prompting prosecutors to push to try the 17-year-old as an adult.
asserted
teen → release → adult
Monte Smith was arrested Nov. 2 after the attack at Fairfield’s Solano Town Center left Constance Hages, 31, dead and six others wounded, according to Fairfield police.
uncertain
attack → arrest → police
The Solano County District Attorney’s Office has also charged him with two counts of murder and asked a judge to move his case to adult court.
asserted
Office → charge → court
Smith had already been arrested in another shooting before the deadly attack at Spirit Halloween, according to Fairfield police.
uncertain
Smith → arrest → police
That case involved gunfire in a local high school parking lot after school hours in 2025.
asserted
case → involve → 2025
He received a sentence and was later released, the department said.
asserted
department → receive → sentence
"It’s time for change in California," Fairfield Police Chief Dan Marshall said, according to KTVU.
uncertain
Marshall → ’ → KTVU
"I don’t know how many more people have to die at the hands of youth.
asserted
people → know → youth
Hopefully we’ve had plenty enough."
asserted
we → have → plenty
Prosecutors also pointed to Smith’s record in explaining why they want him kept in custody.
asserted
him → point → custody
"Due to the seriousness of these crimes, the Minor’s criminal record, and the threat to public safety, the People will argue that Smith remain detained," the DA’s office said.
asserted
office → argue → safety
The filing also alleges a prior violent-offense conviction, described as a strike, though the DA’s announcement did not specify the underlying offense.
asserted
announcement → allege → offense
Hages’ death has left four children without their mother, according to a GoFundMe organized by her aunt, Clanisha Morton.
uncertain
death → leave → aunt
Police confirmed Hages was pregnant when she was killed.
asserted
she → confirm → ?
"Constance was deeply loved, and her absence has created an overwhelming void in the lives of everyone who knew and cherished her," Morton wrote.
asserted
Morton → love → her
The family is raising money for funeral expenses and care for her children.
asserted
family → raise → children
The gunfire erupted around 8:30 p.m. Oct. 30, after Smith allegedly walked into the store and spotted another customer whom investigators believe he intended to target, police said.
uncertain
police → erupt → customer
He pulled out a firearm and fired multiple rounds, striking that person and six others, according to police.
uncertain
He → pull → police
Hages died at the scene.
asserted
Hages → die → scene
Investigators have not identified the intended target or said what led to the shooting.
asserted
what → identify → shooting
Smith fled within minutes, just as officers arrived, police said.
asserted
police → flee → minutes
As first responders treated the wounded, a school resource officer helped investigators identify the suspect.
asserted
investigators → treat → suspect
The officer recognized Smith as a former student while reviewing surveillance video from the store and immediately alerted detectives, according to police.
uncertain
officer → recognize → police
That recognition helped identify him within hours of the initial 911 call, and detectives ultimately located him at a residence in neighboring Suisun City.
asserted
detectives → help → City
Police initially withheld Smith’s name because of his age.
asserted
Police → withhold → age
The DA’s office later publicly identified him in its charging announcement.
asserted
office → identify → announcement
The FBI also assisted with the investigation, confirming to Fox News Digital that its Evidence Response Team helped Fairfield police process a portion of the crime scene.
asserted
police → assist → scene
Along with the two murder counts, Smith faces three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon and multiple gun enhancements, according to the DA’s office.
uncertain
Smith → face → office
Prosecutors also filed a multiple-murder special circumstance allegation.
asserted
Prosecutors → file → allegation
The office announced that Smith’s arraignment and detention hearing was scheduled for Nov. 4 at 9 a.m.
asserted
hearing → announce → a.m.
Its request to prosecute him as an adult requires a judge’s approval.
asserted
request → prosecute → approval
Police have not identified the school involved in the earlier shooting or said when Smith was released in that case.
asserted
Smith → identify → case
In a Saturday update on the surviving victims, police said a 16-year-old boy, a 19-year-old man and a 32-year-old man were in critical condition, while a 23-year-old man was in critical but stable condition.
asserted
man → survive → condition
Two other men, ages 19 and 43, had been treated for gunshot wounds and released.
asserted
men → treat → wounds
The department’s arrest announcement did not provide updated conditions.
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announcement → provide → conditions
"Although an arrest has been made, our work is not over," Fairfield police said.
asserted
police → make → ?
"The criminal justice process will now move forward, and we remain committed to ensuring accountability for the lives impacted by this senseless act of violence."
asserted
we → move → violence
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Fairfield police at 707-428-7600 or email 1030mall@fairfield.ca.gov.
asserted
Anyone → ask → 1030mall@fairfield.ca.gov
The Aporia
