Stockton mass shooting: No updates on search for shooters as witnesses appear in court
As the community continues to mourn the lives lost and the families forever scarred from a Stockton mass shooting at a 2-year-old's birthday party, no updates have been released in the manhunt for the shooters.Four people—three of them children—died, and 13 others were injured after gunfire broke out Nov. 29 on Lucile Avenue at Thornton Road as partygoers were set to cut the birthday cake.KCRA 3 has independently confirmed the names of the four victims killed. They are:Journey Rose Reotutar Guerrero, 8Maya Lupian, 8Amari Peterson, 14Susano Archuleta, 21RELATED | What we know about the victims of the Stockton mass shootingStockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee announced that musician and producer Burna Boy has offered to cover the funeral costs for those killed."When I heard about the children murdered in Stockton, my heart broke," Burna Boy shared in a statement, in part. "I wanted to do whatever I could to support these parents as they begin the long process of healing."On Wednesday, neighbors gathered to pray for victims and survivors, contributing to a memorial at the site where the shooting happened. Those in attendance decried gun violence and talked about why they felt a need to come together.Earlier Wednesday, two parolees who were at the party appeared in court. Officials have said Luciano Guerrero and Billy Williams were arrested for violating their parole and are not believed to be responsible for the attack. Ahead of his court appearance, Williams spoke to KCRA 3 from jail, recounting the chaotic moments when shots rang out. Watch in the video player below.Also on Wednesday, officials and city leaders held two news conferences in response to the mass shooting. Stockton City Mayor Christina Fugazi, along with Josh Fryday from the Governor's Office of Service and Community Engagement, spoke about the need to reduce gun violence and create programs to benefit the youth.Former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, at the second conference, also spoke about a similar need to reduce violence.Meanwhile, the public has not received updates on the search for the shooters, including suspect descriptions. San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow, whose department is the lead investigator, expressed confidence in law enforcement being able to capture everyone responsible for the shooting. But on the same day KCRA 3 learned of a 12th and 13th survivor, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office noted concern that witnesses are not being forthcoming with information and urged for tips on the case, even if anonymous.San Joaquin County's district attorney has also confirmed that they are investigating the shooting to be gang-related.Heather Brent, a spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, told KCRA 3's Anahita Jafary on Monday that the ages of those who survived range from 8 to around 30 years old. Brent did not get into specifics of injuries but stated some patients' conditions have improved, and some have been released from the hospital.There is a cash reward for any information that could lead to an arrest. Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi said there is a $25,000 reward, with money being contributed from Crime Stoppers, her office and Councilwoman Mariela Ponce's office. You can call Crime Stoppers to leave an anonymous tip at 209-946-0600.The FBI Sacramento division is also offering a separate $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of those responsible for the shooting.The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, which was created after the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, also said it would offer a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a suspect or suspects.Withrow said investigators found firearms on the roof of the banquet hall, but it's unclear if those were used in the attack, which is believed to have started inside the building and ended outside. Bullets riddled the banquet hall. Fugazi said the sheriff's office is the lead investigator because the shooting happened just outside of city limits. The Stockton Police Department, Manteca Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI are also investigating the shooting, with assistance from California's Department of Justice.Within the city limits of Stockton, homicides have been trending down this year. As of last week, there were 34, compared to 46 for the same period a year ago, police said. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
