8-year-old Maya Lupian identified among Stockton shooting victims, was two weeks from turning 9
STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA: Three children are among the four people killed in a mass shooting at a child’s birthday party in California. Eleven others, including a 9-year-old, were injured.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting occurred around 6 pm Saturday inside a strip mall shopping center in Stockton, California.
Officials announced Sunday that the victims who died were ages 8, 9, 14, and 21. They added that the banquet hall was crowded with up to 150 partygoers at the time of the attack.
Stockton birthday party shooting claims life of 8-year-old Maya Lupian
An 8-year-old girl named Maya Lupian was among the four individuals who lost their lives in a mass shooting at a children’s birthday party in Stockton, California, during an evening gathering over the weekend.
According to reports, Lupian, a third grader at Aspire Apex Academy, was just two weeks away from her 9th birthday.
Family and friends, in a GoFundMe post created in her memory, described her as a bright and creative child: “She loved to dance, sing, and draw. She was a purple belt in karate, and she loved being active. Maya was the light in everyone’s life, the sweetest soul,” said her sister.
More victims identified as Stockton birthday shooting horror unfolds
Amari Peterson, a 14-year-old boy, was among those who lost their lives in the incident. A 21-year-old adult and a 9-year-old child were also killed.
Between 100 and 150 people had gathered to celebrate a toddler’s birthday. The celebration turned tragic when shots were fired toward the end of the party, just as guests were preparing to cut the cake.
A 14-year-old boy from Modesto was among the four people killed Saturday night at a banquet hall just outside Stockton where gunfire erupted during a crowded birthday party for a child.
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) December 1, 2025
Family members identified Amari Peterson as one of the shooting victims. He was a “bright,… pic.twitter.com/NumI3TnvnD
According to reports, many attendees initially mistook the sound of gunfire for balloons popping or fireworks before realizing the danger unfolding around them. The FBI has now joined other law enforcement agencies in the search for suspects. The reward for information has been raised from $25,000 to $50,000.
The man who leases the venue where the shooting occurred says he does not expect to reopen his business anytime soon, if ever. He told the Sacramento Bee, "There's no business there anymore. It's a memorial."
The city has expressed deep sorrow and urged unity. Local leaders described the shooting as a traumatic event and encouraged communities to stand together in seeking justice, especially for the families of the innocent children who lost their lives.
