Boy, 14, named as sufferer of California birthday celebration capturing that killed three kids and an grownup
A 14-year-old who was killed while at a little girl’s birthday party in California has been identified as one of the four victims to die in the mass shooting.
Amari Peterson was one of the over 100 people attending a party at a banquet hall in Stockton on Saturday when gunfire erupted just before 6pm, killing him as well as an 8-year-old, a 9-year-old, and a 21-year-old.
‘My baby was innocent,’ said Kim Peterson to the Stockton Record.
‘We were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Who would have known my baby wasn’t gonna come home with me?’
The grieving mother said her son was good at everything he participated in, including basketball and football. She asked for prayers for herself, her family, and Peterson’s friends.
‘My baby was loved,’ she added.
In efforts to support the family at this time, both a Venmo fundraiser and a GoFundMe were set up.
The young boy’s Basketball team shared their support on social media following his passing: ‘We need our CV Hornets family to step up and help put Amari to rest. Please even if it’s only $1 everything helps. We want to reach out to the family and help however we can.’
Amari Peterson, 14, was fatally shot while attending a party at a banquet hall in Stockton on November 29. Peterson’s mother said her son played basketball and football
Authorities are continuing to investigate after an unidentified gunman opened fire at a banquet hall in Stockton, California Saturday night
‘The Peterson Family has been here for many years. Amari was loved by everyone. What a great young man. He had so much more to give the world. Amari, we love you. And to his family we will always be here for you.’
At this time, Peterson and 21-year-old Susano Archuleta were the only deceased victims identified.
Archuleta was at the function to celebrate the birthday of a friend’s daughter, according to his aunt Patricia Flores, who told CBS Sacramento.
Flores is using her faith and community to get her through the tragedy.
The aunt added that her niece and her toddler were also at the party, but were lucky to have been in the bathroom during the time of the shooting.
Among the others who were killed, the 8-year-old has only been identified as a student at a local school, with a parent who worked for the Stockton Unified School District, according to the New York Post.
Four people were killed in the shooting and 11 others were wounded
Mayor Christina Fugazi of Stockton blamed the shooting on gang violence
In the moments after shots were fired, the sheriff’s office was inundated with calls reporting a shooting and saying children as young as nine were bleeding
The 9-year-old victim’s identity has not been released. The shooting left 11 others injured.
Patrick Withrow, the Sheriff of San Joaquin County, told reporters on November 30 that one of the injured is in critical condition and that he was unsure of the status of the others.
At this time, no suspects have been arrested, Sheriff’s spokesperson Heather Brent told the Stockton Record.
Mayor Christina Fugazi of Stockton announced on social media that a $25,000 reward will be given to whoever provides information that leads to the arrest of those responsible.
‘Crimestoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved.
‘I am matching that with another $10,000, and with a $5,000 contribution from Councilwoman Mariela Ponce. The total bounty now stands at $25,000,’ wrote Fugazi.
A map shows the location of the shooting that has seen four people killed
Among the four victims who were killed was 21-year-old Susano Archuleta
The mayor blamed the shooting on gang violence and labeled the catastrophe as an act of ‘domestic terrorism.’
San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office encouraged those with information to call detectives at 209-468-4400 or call Crime Stoppers at 209-946-0600 to help.
