Family Mourns 14-Year-Old Amari Peterson After Birthday Party Shooting in Stockton

Following his death in what they described as “a senseless act of violence,” the family of 14-year-old Amari Peterson posted a devastating picture and homage to the youngster, whom they describe as a “bright, loved, and promising young soul.” A family celebration in Stockton turned into an unimaginable tragedy when three children, including Amari, were shot and killed during a birthday party.

On November 29, about 100 family members and friends were gathering in a packed banquet hall for a children’s birthday celebration when the shooting took place. Family members said that as the cake was ready to be cut, commotion broke out. As bullets tore through the celebration, what had started out as a happy afternoon quickly turned into terror and sadness. The horrific massacre was called “an unimaginable tragedy” by Amari’s family.

The gunman has not been identified by the authorities, and no one has been taken into custody. The public is even being urged to spread stories that might point detectives in the direction of a suspect, according to police, who are calling for anybody with knowledge to come forward.

Amari’s aunt, Aresha Mosely, created a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral expenses. She called her nephew a “sweet boy” who lived for sports and had started planning his future. “Amari was a football player, a basketball player, a brother, son, and cousin. He was making plans and looking into colleges of choice… The only mistake this sweet boy made was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was simply being a kid at a kids’ party,” she wrote.

Whether Amari was connected to the youngster whose birthday was being celebrated that day has not been disclosed by the family. The destruction that was left behind is evident, particularly since the shooting killed four people in all, including eight-year-old children.

Mosely emphasized how unimaginable it is for any parent or guardian to face such a loss. “No parent should ever have to bury their child. No family should ever go from planning birthdays to planning funerals… Right now, Amari’s parents and loved ones need support, strength, and love – as a community and as human beings.”

She remembered her nephew not only for his athletic talent but for the warmth he shared with the people around him. He was described again as “a bright, loved, and promising young soul whose life was taken far too soon by a senseless act of violence.”

Amari is shown grinning with teammates, enjoying time with family, and loving the sports he loves in pictures that have been uploaded to the GoFundMe site. Over $25,000 has already been raised by the campaign to help the family get ready for his memorial.

In the days after the tragedy, the Stockton community and the relatives of those who saw the horror have been in agony. Following the event, Patrice Williams, the mother of the birthday girl, expressed her grief. It was simply unexpected. I have no idea what happened, and I’m just shocked and perplexed. They should be sent to jail. They deserve hell. I’m sorry, but it’s plain impolite. It’s a kids’ festivity.

Police continue to seek clues in the hopes that someone would come forward and assist them in identifying the shooter, who is still at large. Families like the Petersons are grieving the loss of a child whose life ended abruptly at what should have been a joyful occasion, despite the kid’s bright future.