‘Sweet boy’, 14, killed in Stockton birthday party shooting | US | News
One of the victims of the Stockton birthday party attack was photographed by his family, who were heartbroken that his “bright, loved and promising young soul” was caught up in a “senseless act of violence”. One of the three children killed in the tragic shooting was 14-year-old Amari Peterson.
Amari Peterson’s family called the mass shooting at the banquet hall an “unimaginable tragedy.” On Saturday, November 29, gunshots rang out as the cake was about to be cut at a children’s birthday party attended by more than 100 family and friends.
The gunman remains at large. Amari’s aunt, Aresha Mosely, wrote on a GoFundMe page to raise money for the teenager’s funeral that he was a “sweet kid” who loved sports. He said: “Amari was a football player, a basketball player, a brother, a son and a cousin. He was making plans and researching his preferred universities… The only mistake this sweet boy made was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was just acting like a kid at a kids’ party.”
It’s unclear whether Amari is related to the toddler or a family friend. He was among four people, including two children who were only eight years old.
Police seek information to track down the attacker or attackers and even welcome rumors. Amari’s aunt added: “No parent should have to bury their child. No family should ever go from planning a birthday to planning a funeral… Right now, Amari’s parents and loved ones need support, strength and love as a community and as people.”
He described his nephew as a talented baseball player; “a bright, beloved and promising young soul whose life was ended too soon by a senseless act of violence.”
Pictures of the boy showing his love for the sport and his family were added to the GoFundMe. There are currently over $25,000 (£18,000) in donations and you can: Click this link to donate.
Patrice Williams, the birthday girl’s mother, said after the tragedy: “This was unexpected. I don’t know what happened and I was so shocked I was lost… They deserve to be locked up. They deserve to go to hell. I’m sorry but I just… this is not dignified. This is a children’s party.”
