A 17-year-old accused in the Spirit Halloween shooting that killed a pregnant mother and injured six others in Fairfield, California, is facing adult charges as prosecutors ask a judge to move the case out of juvenile court.
Fairfield police said the suspect, identified as Monte Smith, was arrested on Nov. 2 in connection with the Oct. 30 attack at Solano Town Center that left 31-year-old Constance Hages dead. Six other people were wounded. The Solano County District Attorney’s Office has filed two counts of murder and is seeking to prosecute Smith as an adult.
Spirit Halloween shooting prompts push for adult charges
According to Fairfield police, Smith had previously been arrested in an unrelated shooting that happened in a high school parking lot after hours in 2025. He was sentenced in that case and later released. Citing the severity of the Fairfield attack and the teen’s record, prosecutors said they will argue he remain detained, calling him a threat to public safety.
A filing also references a prior violent offense described as a strike, though officials did not detail the underlying crime. Fairfield Police Chief Dan Marshall, speaking to local media, said it is “time for change in California,” adding that he hopes no more lives are lost to youth violence.
Victim identified, family fundraising
Hages’ family said she was pregnant at the time of her death and leaves behind four children. A fundraiser organized by her aunt, Clanisha Morton, is collecting money for funeral costs and care for the children.
“Constance was deeply loved,” Morton wrote, noting the profound loss felt by family and friends. The shooting joins a series of high-profile violent incidents nationwide, including the 2023 NYC subway killing that has drawn renewed attention to public safety.
How the investigation unfolded
Police said gunfire erupted around 8:30 p.m. when the suspect entered the store and allegedly recognized another customer believed to be his intended target. He opened fire, striking that individual and six bystanders. Hages died at the scene.
Investigators have not identified the intended target or disclosed a motive. The suspect fled as officers arrived. A school resource officer who reviewed surveillance video recognized Smith as a former student, which helped detectives identify him within hours.
He was later found at a residence in nearby Suisun City. Authorities initially withheld his name due to his age, but the District Attorney’s Office released it in announcing the charges.
Charges and next court date
In addition to two murder counts, Smith faces three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon and several firearm enhancements, prosecutors said. They also filed a multiple-murder special circumstance allegation.
The FBI’s Evidence Response Team assisted Fairfield police with processing part of the crime scene. The FBI often deploys specialized units to complex or large-scale investigations.
The District Attorney’s Office said Smith’s arraignment and detention hearing was scheduled for Nov. 4 at 9 a.m. The request to try him as an adult requires a judge’s approval.
Survivors’ conditions
Police said over the weekend that three of the surviving victims, 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 in critical but stable condition.
Two others, ages 19 and 43, were treated and released. No further updates on their conditions were provided in the arrest announcement.
“Although an arrest has been made, our work is not over,” Fairfield police said, adding that the department remains committed to accountability for those affected. More information is available through the City of Fairfield’s official channels.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Fairfield police at 707-428-7600 or email 1030mall@fairfield.ca.gov.
