In a gut-wrenching account that has left the nation holding its breath and reaching for tissues, Patrick Peterson, the father of 14-year-old Amari Peterson, broke down in tears during an emotional press conference on December 9, 2025, recounting the harrowing final moments of his son’s life amid the chaos of the Stockton, California, mass shooting at a child’s birthday party. “Please… save my child,” Peterson sobbed, his voice cracking as he described jumping over a counter to reach Amari, who had been shot in the chest, and desperately performing CPR while blood poured from the wound. The scene, replaying endlessly in his mind, unfolded at the Monkey Space event hall on November 29, where gunfire erupted during a 2-year-old’s celebration, killing four—including three children—and injuring 13 others. As Peterson relived the nightmare, Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee called for accountability, vowing to combat the “no-snitch culture” that has stalled the investigation. With no arrests yet, the father’s plea isn’t just for justice—it’s a cry for a community to heal from the unthinkable.
The shooting shattered what should have been a joyful gathering of 80-100 family and friends at the Lucile Avenue venue. Witnesses described a minute of pandemonium: multiple shooters in dark clothing and face coverings firing over 50 rounds from at least five guns, targeting rapper MBNel, who was attending. Amari, a gentle soul passionate about football and basketball, was struck above the heart while chatting with the artist. “I look and he had a hole the size of a nickel on his chest,” Peterson recounted, his body shaking. “He was crawling, trying to get up, gasping for air. I held him, did CPR, but the blood just kept coming… he took his last breath in my arms.” Amari’s sister, 9, was grazed by a bullet and survived; Peterson himself shielded her amid the gunfire.
San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow confirmed the attack was “targeted and gang-related,” with tips numbering 50 but witnesses reluctant to speak. The FBI and ATF have boosted the reward to $130,000, but Withrow renewed calls for anonymous submissions. Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee, a shooting survivor himself at 15, decried the “no-snitch culture” plaguing marginalized communities, citing underinvestment in violence prevention. “This isn’t just a shooting—it’s a failure of systems that let kids die at birthday parties,” Lee said, pledging city resources for mental health and youth programs.
Peterson, a Stockton native and father of three, described Amari as “the perfect gift from God,” who greeted him every morning with “I love you, Dad.” “Every day he appreciated me… now all I see is him crawling, gasping,” he wept. The family struggles: sleepless nights, replaying the horror, with Peterson vowing to honor Amari through community work. “He was my best friend—full of life, energy. Why God? Why my boy?”
Stockton’s violent crime rate, double the state average, underscores the crisis: 3,680 incidents in 2024. The shooting, at a venue booked in-person rather than online, highlights vulnerabilities in event safety. Burna Boy offered to cover funeral costs, a gesture Lee praised as “healing.”
As vigils light Lucile Avenue and tips trickle in, Peterson’s plea echoes: “Save my child” became a father’s eternal scream. Stockton mourns, but his words demand change—a city’s soul cries for justice, one breath at a time.
