Authorities have confirmed the ages of the victims in the November 29, 2025, massacre in Stockton, a tragedy that left four people dead, including three innocent children, and 11 others wounded in a blaze of gunfire that ripped through what should have been a safe haven.

As the investigation unfolds, grieving relatives and shaken witnesses have come forward to share names and harrowing accounts from that awful day, including the father of a local rapper convinced his son and daughter-in-law were targeted.

The Moment the Party Ended

It was supposed to be a sweet, unforgettable afternoon, a gathering of 100 loved ones inside a cheerful banquet hall called Monkey Space, where family and friends came together to celebrate a little girl’s second birthday.

But in an instant, everything shattered.

Patrice Williams, the birthday girl’s mother, broke her silence, describing the moment the unimaginable unfolded. Just as guests gathered to cut the cake, a burst of terrifying gunfire ripped through the room.

At first, no one understood what was happening. People instinctively dropped to the ground, while others were frozen in confusion and fear. Even Williams initially believed it had been balloons popping.

But it wasn’t balloons. It was gunfire, and within moments, a celebration had turned into a disaster. According to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, the casualties included an eight-year-old, a nine-year-old, a 14-year-old, and a 21-year-old.

“I just want to say I’m sorry to all the mothers out there that lost their kids at my birthday party,” Williams told ABC 7 in a voice heavy with grief.

Among those injured were multiple members of her own family: her daughter’s dad’s niece and his nieces, her sister, her cousin, her son’s friend, and three of her friends. One of them, the father of her friend’s baby, was shot and killed.

And the horror continued long afterward. A nine-year-old was reported in good condition at Dignity Health–St. Joseph Medical Center by the afternoon of Sunday, November 30, but Sheriff Patrick Withrow confirmed that another victim remained in critical condition that night.

According to Withrow, the gunfire started indoors but spilled outside, accounting for the high number of wounded victims.

But in the chaos, Williams never saw the shooter. She still can’t imagine who would carry out such a heartless attack at that event. “They deserve to be in jail. They deserve to go to hell,” she said. “I’m sorry, but I just … it’s not respectable. It’s a kids’ party.”

Families Identify One Teenager and an Adult

Among the many families now drowning in grief, one has stepped forward to name the 14-year-old boy whose life was stolen in the Stockton tragedy.

His name was Amari Peterson, a vibrant, athletic teenager who adored football and basketball, and who, according to his loved ones, had no ties to danger or violence.

His family painted a fuller portrait of him through a GoFundMe campaign, set up to help cover the costs of his funeral. There, Peterson is remembered as “a bright, loved, and promising young soul whose life was taken far too soon by a senseless act of violence.”

Peterson had been looking into universities, already shaping dreams for a future that was brutally stolen. His only mistake was being in the wrong place.

The fundraiser appeals to the community for support, asking for help for Patrick and Kim Peterson, grieving parents facing the unthinkable. As of now, $34,287 has been raised toward a goal of $55,000.

In a gut-wrenching conversation with the Los Angeles Times, Emmanuel Lopez recounted watching two relatives fall victim to the gunfire. His nine-year-old daughter was shot in the head, but miraculously survived. His brother, Susano Archuleta, was not so lucky.

A single bullet pierced Archuleta’s neck, killing the 21-year-old on the spot.

“I’m just upset right now. My brother died in my arms,” Lopez said, describing Archuleta as “full of life and energy.”

Bullets Rip Through Nearby Home

As the gunfire raged outside Monkey Space, the violence spilled beyond the party walls, shaking nearby homes and endangering unsuspecting residents.

Brandon Hernandez, a Stockton local, was simply relaxing in his bedroom when three bullets tore through his walls, narrowly missing both him and his beloved dog, Rocky.

Terrified, Hernandez grabbed his girlfriend and his dog and ran to the back of the house, taking cover while the shooting continued for what he estimated was at least five minutes. Roughly ten bullets struck his place. “I was thinking I was going to die,” he recalled.

A Rapper in the Crosshairs

Just hours after the bloodshed, a storm of online speculation erupted, suggesting that rapper MBnel may have been at the party, and even more chilling, that he allegedly could have been the intended target.

On December 1, his father, Junior Dongon, confirmed to The Post that his son had in fact been shot in the incident. His daughter-in-law was hit too.

Years earlier, MBnel had moved out of Stockton to live in Sacramento, fearing for his safety. The decision came after several violent incidents, including a terrifying shooting where his parents’ home was sprayed with 22 bullets.

But that day, he returned. According to his father, MBnel had come to the party to meet a few fellow rappers, including the birthday girl’s father. He wasn’t planning to stay. He was only there to drop off a gift, and that’s when the gunfire struck.

By some miracle, both MBnel and his wife survived and are in stable condition, but they are now in hiding. “My daughter-in-law was hit in the butt,” the patriarch said. “We are worried. I’m worried about my wife, but I can’t do anything about it.”

The Hunt Is On

The tragedy may have ended in gunfire, but the pursuit of justice is far from over. The manhunt is still active, with no suspects in custody, and authorities believe this was no lone gunman.

Sheriff Withrow and others are convinced there were multiple shooters behind the targeted birthday party attack. According to Heather Brent, San Joaquin Sheriff Public Information Officer, the search has become their top priority.

Brent pledged that their department won’t rest until justice is served. She confirmed that more than one suspect is being pursued, though she clarified that they’re not calling this shooting “gang related” just yet.

Still, officials are well aware of online speculation and are actively investigating every possible lead to identify those responsible.

A few eyewitnesses managed to give a limited description of one gunman. He was said to be approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, wearing black pants, but beyond that, details remain scarce.

As of now, authorities do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public. But the stakes have escalated. The FBI Sacramento Field Office has joined forces with local agencies and is now offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved.

The bureau is urging anyone with photos and videos of the shooting to submit them online at www.fbi.gov/stocktonshooting. Any other information about the shooters, such as descriptions of getaway vehicles, or weapons involved, can use the tip line 209-946-0600.

Officials have promised the public: every tip will remain anonymous.

The First Details

As previously reported, a joyful gathering at a restaurant on the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue turned into a chaos. The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office revealed that emergency calls flooded in just before 6 p.m. that Saturday, as terrified patrons fled the area. Four people unfortunately couldn’t escape.

Among those injured, some were rushed to nearby hospitals, but their conditions remained unclear. As of midnight on November 30, the scene of the shooting was still active, with police scouring for clues, as the suspect was still at large.

A Community Reeling

Sheriff’s Office Informant Brent had shared a chilling detail, “Early indications suggest this may be a targeted incident, and investigators are exploring all possibilities.”

Additionally, in a press conference held in the early hours of Sunday, Stockton’s Mayor Christina Fugazi called this situation “unacceptable,” as families were supposed to be gathered for a joyous occasion, not at the hospital begging for their loved one’s lives.

A Desperate Plea for Information

She also implored the public to come forward with any detail that could help catch the person or people behind this horror. “Our city is better than that,” she added.

The Sheriff’s Office echoed the appeal on social media, “Community assistance is vital in helping us identify those responsible and bring justice to the victims and their loved ones.”

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas stepped in to assure the public that no stone would be left unturned.

He said multiple agencies were actively engaged in the investigation and promised that his office would use the full force of the law to ensure whoever was behind the shooting faces the consequences for this senseless crime.