The teenager accused in the Spirit Halloween shooting that killed a pregnant mother of four had previously been released after serving time for a shooting at a high school parking lot.
Monte Smith, 17, had already been arrested in connection with another case before the deadly attack at the Spirit Halloween store, FOX News reported.
That incident involved gunfire in a local high school parking lot after classes had ended in 2025. Fairfield police said Smith was sentenced before later being released.
Smith was arrested November 2, days after the shooting at Fairfield’s Solano Town Center that killed Constance Hages, 31, and injured six others.
The Solano County District Attorney’s Office has charged him with two counts of murder and is asking a judge to transfer the case to adult court.
Prosecutors cited Smith’s previous record as part of their argument that he should remain in custody.
‘Given 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.
Smith also faces three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon and several gun-related enhancements, according to the outlet.
Police vehicles gather outside a Spirit Halloween store in Fairfield, California, in video provided by KXTV on Saturday, October 31, 2026. (KXTV via AP)
Constance Hages, 31, was killed in the Northern California Spirit Halloween shooting that left six other people injured, police said
Smith’s arraignment and detention hearing was scheduled for November 4 at 9 a.m.
In a statement, the Fairfield Police Department said four of the six surviving victims remained hospitalized.
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‘A 19-year-old male remains in critical condition, while a 16-year-old male, 23-year-old male, and 32-year-old male are all reported to be in stable condition.’
‘Although an arrest has been made, our work is not over,’ Fairfield police said. ‘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.’
Investigators say Smith entered the Spirit Halloween store on October 30 and spotted another customer believed to have been his intended target.
He then allegedly drew a firearm and fired several rounds at Hages, who was pregnant.
The shooting struck Hages and six other people inside the store. Smith fled before officers arrived, escaping just minutes ahead of them.
While reviewing surveillance footage, a school resource officer assisting with the investigation recognized Smith as a former student and immediately alerted authorities.
Ambulances and emergency personnel responded to Solano Town Center in Fairfield, California, after multiple people were reported shot; three victims were critically injured
Hages’ aunt, Clanisha Morton, launched a GoFundMe campaign for the family, which has raised $8,362
Hages’ aunt, Clanisha Morton, created a GoFundMe campaign to help the family. In the appeal, she wrote: ‘This heartbreaking loss has left behind four children, grieving parents, and a family trying to face a pain that words can barely hold.’
‘Constance was deeply loved, and her absence has created an overwhelming void in the lives of everyone who knew and cherished her,’ Morton added.
The family is asking supporters for ‘prayers, compassion, and any help people are able to give.’
By Wednesday afternoon, the fundraiser had collected $8,362 toward its $12,000 goal.