Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi is asking for federal help to take on gang violence in the aftermath of the mass shooting at a children's birthday party.

While investigators have not confirmed the shooting was gang-related, Fugazi said she believes it was and said the brazen nature of the crime requires a strong federal response.

"It's babies we're talking about, children," Fugazi said. "We're talking about a cake being cut as bullets are ringing out. The candles have been blown out, you're cutting the cake, and then bullets are flying out, piercing, going through flesh and killing four people."

Fugazi said the city has cracked down on illegal guns, seizing 752 guns off the street so far this year, up from 610 in the same time period last year.

"We've got approximately 5,000 gang mem

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