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- Fairfield moved its graduation to Armijo High after a shooting in its parking lot.
- Each graduate received a maximum of six tickets and admission required a ticket.
- Fairfield Police increased graduation patrols and sought mutual aid after shooting.
FAIRFIELD
Just minutes before her son was set to graduate from Fairfield High School, Brittney Roberson couldn’t help but think back to her nephew’s graduation two days before.
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Roberson was in attendance at Sem Yeto Continuation High School’s graduation Wednesday, where one person was killed and three others were wounded in a shooting at Fairfield High’s parking lot, just outside of the ceremony. She said the 18-year-old that was killed, who has not yet been identified by authorities, was a friend of her nephew.
“I just remember hearing shots, and everyone saying those were fireworks. I just knew to grab my daughter, duck and cover. That’s it,” Roberson said Friday evening. “As far as me being here today, it’s kind of hard, but I’m praying. We’re just here to celebrate my children.”
While her son was graduating from Fairfield High, his graduation took place at nearby Armijo High School — a decision Fairfield administration announced in an email to families Thursday and one that came after students petitioned the district to move the graduation after the shooting Wednesday.
“Tonight, we acknowledge tragedy, strength and resilience,” Fairfield High 12th grade principal Rebecca Campion said during a speech at graduation. “However, we gather today to celebrate the hard-working Class of 2026.”
What did the graduation look like?
Though Fairfield’s graduation moved locations and the seniors walked at the Armijo football field, it still began at its scheduled time, 6 p.m. Friday, with some alterations to ticketing. The ceremony began with a moment of silence for those injured at Sem Yeto’s graduation.
Each graduating senior received a maximum of six tickets, with no more being distributed and nobody without a ticket being granted admission, the email from the school said. The event was also livestreamed on the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District’s YouTube page.
The Fairfield Police Department said Thursday that it would increase its presence at this year’s Fairfield-Suisun Unified graduation ceremonies after the shooting. The department also said it contacted other law enforcement agencies to provide mutual aid at graduations.
“We appreciate your patience and understanding during this difficult time, as we come together in community to celebrate this milestone, while knowing that so many are affected by this tragedy,” the email read. “We have worked to coordinate with the district and law enforcement to ensure the safety and well-being of students, families, staff, and all attendees at our graduation ceremony.”
Though she said the changes affecting Fairfield’s graduation have been hard for her son and another graduating senior who she called her “bonus son,” Roberson said she was still very excited to watch them walk.
“I’ve already been crying,” Roberson said.
‘It just changed the energy around’
Though it wasn’t at their own gym, Fairfield High students still met up before the ceremony in preparation to walk the stage, taking pictures together and celebrating the end of their high school careers. Parents and family members still flocked to the school with flowers in hand to present to their future graduates.
Imari Carter, 18, said about an hour before the ceremony that he is grateful for the support the school staff has provided students in the wake of the shooting at Sem Yeto’s graduation. While he said the location change was frustrating, he said it was necessary due to the shooting and signed the student petition in support.
“It just changed the energy around. People have to worry about the negative parts about graduation, and it should be all about joy and the graduates,” Carter said of the shooting. “But I feel like our community is really coming together to do as much as possible.”
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Angel Ramirez, 18, another future graduate, said his time at Fairfield and especially on its football team has been extremely impactful, making him emotional about the change in location.
“I’m happy that I’m gonna graduate with my friends and my families here, but also it kind of sucks,” Ramirez said before the ceremony. “I played football all four years and it sucks that I’m not there graduating at my school. But, I’d rather have a graduation than none at all.”
The staff speaker at the commencement, sports medicine teacher Golnar Tavassoli, acknowledged the shooting saying, “My thoughts and prayers are for everyone affected.”
What happened in Fairfield High shooting?
About 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a shooting at the parking lot of Fairfield High School, the Fairfield Police Department said in a news release early Thursday.
Police said the 18-year-old has not yet been identified due to the ongoing investigation, while the three shot were described as 11-, 20- and 25-year-olds, who all suffered non-fatal injuries.
No suspect has been publicly named by Fairfield police, and a suspect description has not been released. The department said it was interviewing potential witnesses of the roughly 1,000 attendees of Sem Yeto’s graduation and following leads in its Thursday release.
A makeshift vigil filled with flowers, stuffed toys, candles and graduation balloons remained Friday afternoon at the Fairfield High sports complex, near the scene of Wednesday’s shooting.
In a separate news release put out later Thursday, the department said an attempt was made by the school district to request police presence at Sem Yeto’s graduation, but that they were unaware of it due to the request not being submitted through an established process.
The release was a response to rumors that the district did not request police presence, which police said was “not an accurate characterization of what happened.”
In a statement released during Friday’s graduation, the district said a message was left with the police department Monday, but it was on a phone line not checked daily, which is why it was not heard.
“We remain committed to supporting FSUSD and our community, and we will continue working collaboratively to ensure clear communication and the safety of all,” Fairfield police said in the release.
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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 3:07 PM.