Family Identifies 14-Year-Old Amari Peterson as Victim in Stockton Mass Shooting; FBI Offers Up to $50K for Suspects

The family of 14-year-old Amari Peterson has identified him as one of the four people — including three children — killed in Saturday’s mass shooting at a child’s birthday party in Stockton, California. The FBI is now offering up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest or conviction of those responsible, as the suspects remain at large.

Authorities say between 100 and 150 people were gathered at a banquet hall to celebrate a 2-year-old girl’s birthday when gunfire erupted inside the building and continued outside. Four victims, ages 8, 9, 14, and 21, were killed, and 11 others were injured, including community activist Jasmine Dellafosse, CBS News Sacramento confirmed. At least one person remained in critical condition.

San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said investigators believe multiple shooters were involved. Heather Brent, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, said locating the suspects is the department’s top priority: “We are not going to stop until we do.”

Family members identified the 21-year-old victim as Susano Archuleta, though authorities have not formally released the names of any of the deceased. On a GoFundMe page created for funeral expenses, Peterson’s family described him as a teen who loved sports and emphasized he had no involvement in gang activity, countering speculation after Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi said she believed the incident was gang-related. The Sheriff’s Office has not confirmed that claim.

Family Identifies 14-Year-Old Amari Peterson as Victim in Stockton Mass Shooting; FBI Offers Up to $50K for Suspects

“The only mistake this sweet boy made was being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” the family wrote. “He was simply being a kid at a kids’ party.”

Witnesses described a chaotic scene as families dove to the ground, children hid behind overturned tables and under a bounce house, and gunfire continued for what felt like “forever,” according to relatives who spoke with CBS News Sacramento. The mother of the 2-year-old birthday girl, Patrice Williams, said she felt devastated for the families of the young victims: “I’m just so shocked and lost and speechless. I just want to say I’m sorry to all the mothers out there that lost their kids at my birthday party.”

 

The shooting has deeply affected the Stockton community, including local schools. The Stockton Unified School District confirmed that the 8-year-old victim was a third-grade student in the district. Counselors were deployed to all 55 campuses and directly to the child’s school on Monday. Superintendent Dr. Michelle Rodriguez said the impact of the shooting is felt districtwide: “When you have a mass shooting in a community, it doesn’t just impact one school; it impacts all 55.”

San Joaquin Delta College also announced it would provide mental health support and counseling to students, writing, “This loss touches all of us deeply… We have no doubt this community will rally around affected families.”

The investigation remains active, and authorities urge anyone with information to contact the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office or the FBI.