On the evening of November 29, 2025, a devastating mass shooting occurred at the Monkey Space event hall in Stockton, California, turning a toddler's birthday celebration into a scene of tragedy. Approximately eighty to one hundred guests had gathered at the venue on Lucile Avenue to celebrate a two-year-old's birthday when gunfire erupted. The attack resulted in the deaths of four individuals and left thirteen others injured.
Among the deceased was Maya Lupian, an eight-year-old female who was attending the party.
Maya was remembered by her family and school community as a vibrant and affectionate child who was the light of their lives. A third-grade student at Aspire APEX Academy, she was known for her active lifestyle, which included earning a purple belt in karate and a love for dancing, singing, and drawing. Her sister shared that Maya was the sweetest soul and was just two weeks shy of celebrating her ninth birthday when she was fatally struck. The other victims killed in the incident were identified as eight-year-old Journey Rose Reotutar Guerrero, fourteen-year-old Amari Peterson, and twenty-one-year-old Susano Archuleta.
Investigators described the incident as a targeted attack involving multiple shooters who reportedly wore dark clothing and face coverings. As of early December 2025, the perpetrators remained at large, and no arrests directly related to the actual shooting had been made. Law enforcement officials noted that at least fifty rounds were fired from five different guns during the chaos. While two men present at the event were arrested on suspicion of parole violations, authorities clarified that they were not considered suspects in the homicides. Federal agencies, including the FBI and ATF, offered significant rewards for information leading to the identification and conviction of the gunmen.
