‘Rapper’ was target of shooting at Stockton family birthday party that took lives of 14-year-old Amari Peterson, 3 others

Four people, including three children, were killed in the gunfire. The children were aged 8, 9, and 14. The fourth killed was a 21-year-old Susano Archuleta. One of the 11 others injured is in critical condition. The shooting erupted just as the toddler was cutting her birthday cake at the party.

The 14-year-old boy who was killed has been identified as Amari Peterson. As of Tuesday, no suspects have been identified, and a manhunt is underway for the people believed to be responsible for the shooting.

Amari Peterson

Rapper MBnel was among those 11 people who were injured in the shooting at the birthday party that was being thrown for his friend's 2-year-old daughter, Monkey Space, at a banquet hall in the city. The shooting took place on Saturday evening. The rapper's father, Junior Dongon, told the New York Post that the musician is in hiding since the shooting took place.

Rapper MBnel

MBnel, whose real name is Johnel Dongon, had previously left Stockton and was living in Sacramento. He had only gone back to Stockton with some of his friends in order to go to the birthday party. "He just came to drop off a present at his friend’s party, whose daughter was the celebrant," the rapper's father said. “He was shot, but he is OK. … He called me and said, ‘Don’t say anything to anybody.'"

According to KCRA, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said that the shooting was a targeted attack and Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi said on Sunday that the shooting was the result of gang violence.

"I have been told by individuals who were invited there were people there who had ties in the gang community," Fugazi said. The mother of the 2-year-old having the birthday, Patrice Williams, said that those who shot up the event "deserve to go to hell.”

Neighbors who were near where the shooting took place said that they heard gunshots for what felt like a minute and that it sounded as if there were multiple people firing off guns. "Whoever did this: You don't need to see the light of day again," Fugazi said. There has been a $25,000 reward announced for any information that will lead to the perpetrator’s arrest.