STOCKTON, Calif. — What began as a family birthday celebration ended in a mass shooting that killed four people and wounded more than a dozen others, authorities said.
The gathering was held for a 2-year-old girl at Monkey Space, an event hall on Lucile Avenue in unincorporated San Joaquin County just outside Stockton city limits. Roughly 80 to 150 guests were present on the evening of Nov. 29, 2025, when gunfire erupted inside the venue shortly before 6 p.m., around the time dinner was being served and the cake was about to be cut.
Witnesses described a sudden burst of shots. People dove for cover, shielded children, and fled over fences and down nearby lanes. Emergency crews treated victims at the scene before transporting the wounded to hospitals. Some were in critical condition.
The dead were identified as 8-year-olds Maya Lupian and Journey Rose Reotutar Guerrero, 14-year-old Amari Peterson, and 21-year-old Susano Archuleta. At least 13 others were injured. Investigators later said more than 50 rounds were fired and that evidence pointed to multiple firearms and possibly more than one shooter.
San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said the attack did not appear random. Officials have described it as targeted and possibly gang-related, though no motive has been formally confirmed and no suspects have been publicly identified or arrested. A reward that grew to $130,000 has been offered for information leading to an arrest. The FBI and ATF have assisted the sheriff’s office, which has jurisdiction because the hall sits just outside Stockton city limits.
Surveillance video, cellphone footage, photographs, and witness statements remain central to the investigation. Authorities have asked anyone who saw the shooting or captured images to come forward, noting that even small details could help establish a timeline and identify those responsible.
The violence left families mourning children and a young adult who had been at a party meant for joy. Relatives described Amari as a high-school athlete and devoted son; Maya as a third-grader weeks from her ninth birthday; Journey as a curious, gentle child; and Archuleta as a young man just beginning adult life. Survivors and witnesses have spoken of lasting trauma.
Stockton has long struggled with high rates of violent crime. City and county leaders called the attack especially devastating because it struck children at a family celebration. Community members have held vigils and offered support while waiting for answers that, months later, have still not fully arrived.
Investigators continue to process evidence and interview witnesses. For the families, the immediate work remains grief, care for the injured, and the search for accountability after a birthday party became a crime scene.
