Stockton, Calif. — On a night meant for celebration, the laughter and candlelight turned to screams and sorrow. What began as a birthday party for a 2‑year‑old child ended in unimaginable tragedy: four innocent lives — three children and a young man — lost in a hail of bullets, and a community left clutching shock, grief, and questions.
A Party That Became a Nightmare
The gathering, held at Monkey Space, a banquet hall on Lucile Avenue, drew between 100 and 150 family and friends Saturday evening. Just before 6:00 p.m., as some prepared to cut the cake, gunfire erupted. Multiple shooters are believed to be involved. Chaos swallowed the hall and spilled into the street.
By the time the shooting stopped, four people were dead — the youngest just 8 years old — and at least 13 others wounded, after two additional survivors self‑transported to hospital.
Remembering the Lost
Maya Lupian, 8, a third grader at Aspire APEX Academy, was described by her family as “the light in everyone’s life.” A purple‑belt in karate, she loved dancing, drawing, singing and being active. Her sister wrote on a GoFundMe page, “She deserved a childhood full of laughter, school days, karate, family time and dreams—not this.” Maya would have turned 9 on December 13.
Journey Rose Reotutar Guerrero, also 8, was a student in the Stockton Unified School District. Her mother is a teacher. Loved ones remember Journey as kind, curious, and generous — always ready to help, always dreaming big. She enjoyed math games, gymnastics, arts and baking. Her biggest dream: to become a doctor. “She had so many dreams and goals,” her mother shared.
Amari Peterson, 14, a lively athlete from Modesto, split his time between basketball and football. Coaches and family called him a bright, promising student with a 3.8 GPA, full of ambition and warmth. He had come to the party with family — but was “in the wrong place at the wrong time,” as loved ones would later say.
Susano Archuleta, 21, the only adult killed, was remembered as deeply loved in his neighborhood — a young man whose whole life lay before him. His family, friends and neighbors are now left grappling with a void words can’t fill.
A City Mourns — and Hunts for Answers
No arrests have been made. Ballistics evidence — including weapons found atop the hall’s roof — is being processed, but investigators have yet to publicly identify any suspect. Authorities believe this was a targeted attack, possibly involving multiple shooters.
In a joint effort, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, local police, the regional office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies are working the case. They’ve pledged to pursue every lead, publicly urging anyone with video, tips or information to come forward.
To encourage community cooperation, authorities and local organizations have offered a reward. The FBI has promised up to $50,000 for credible information; local officials and Crime Stoppers have added $25,000. That pushes the potential total to $75,000.
Grief, Solidarity, and Shattered Trust
Vigils spring up across Stockton — at the banquet hall site, outside the victims’ schools, in neighborhood churches. Grief is heavy and raw. Family members, classmates, and local officials speak of a shared pain that doesn’t know color or age: four futures erased in an instant.
Schools — including Aspire APEX Academy and Stockton Unified — are preparing mental‑health support for students, parents, and staff. “We are heartbroken,” one school official said. “Our community needs healing.”
A Call to Act, Not Just Mourn
Officials, community leaders and parents are demanding answers. Some call for stronger efforts to curb gun violence and prevent minors from being exposed to it. Others urge immediate action from lawmakers and law enforcement so no other family has to endure this kind of horror.
In the meantime, the people of Stockton sit together in sadness — but also resolve. They remember Maya’s laughter, Journey’s compassion, Amari’s ambition, Susano’s warmth. And they wait: for justice, for peace, for an end to this endless cycle of grief.
