Stockton Mass Shooting: Details on the Tragedy and the Rapper in Hiding

Stockton Mass Shooting: Details on the Tragedy and the Rapper in Hiding

A devastating mass shooting erupted on November 29, 2025, at a 2-year-old girl's birthday party held at the Monkey Space banquet hall in an unincorporated area of San Joaquin County, north of Stockton, California. What began as a celebration with 100–150 attendees, including families and friends gathered for cake-cutting, quickly turned into chaos when multiple masked gunmen opened fire around 6 p.m. The attack left **four people dead—three of them children—and 11 others wounded, including several minors. Authorities, including the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, have described the incident as a targeted assault**, likely involving more than one shooter, though no arrests have been made as of December 4, 2025. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to arrests and convictions, alongside $25,000 from Stockton Crime Stoppers.

Victims Identified
The confirmed fatalities are:
-Amari Peterson, 14-year-old boy (died from gunshot wounds after his father attempted CPR at the scene).
- Maya Lupian, 8-year-old girl (a third-grader at Aspire Apex Academy in Stockton, known for her love of dancing, singing, drawing, and karate; her 9th birthday was just two weeks away).
- Journey Rose Reotutar Guerrero**, 8-year-old girl.
- Susano Archuleta, 21-year-old man.

Among the injured, one remains in critical condition, while others are stable or have been released. Patrick Peterson, father of Amari, recounted the horror: His son had briefly left his side to speak with a rapper at the party when gunfire broke out. Peterson's young daughter was also grazed by a bullet. "He started letting off shots and people were scrambling and falling, getting out of the way," Peterson told KTVU.

The Targeted Rapper: MBNel
Social media speculation and family statements point to **MBNel (real name Jhonel "Johnel" Dongon)**, a Stockton-based gangsta rapper with hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers, as the primary target. MBNel, affiliated with the "Muddy Boyz" (MB) collective, attended the party briefly to drop off a gift for the birthday girl—the daughter of fellow rapper Nano. He was shot in the attack but survived with non-life-threatening injuries; his wife was also wounded.

MBNel's father, Junior Dongon, told the New York Post that his son immediately went into hiding after the shooting, fearing for his life: "He called me and said, ‘Don’t say anything to anybody.'" Dongon revealed MBNel had fled Stockton two years prior due to prior threats, including a 2023 incident where 22 bullets riddled his parents' home. He had only returned for the event with friends. Unverified reports also suggest another rapper, **Fly Boy Doughy**, may have been present and targeted alongside MBNel, though this remains unconfirmed by officials.

Patrick Peterson echoed this, telling multiple outlets (including The Independent and KTVU) that the masked gunman appeared to be aiming at MBNel, with whom his son was conversing moments before the shots rang out. The party reportedly included known gang members from rival factions, including "Muddy Boyz" and "Every Body Killers" (EBK), amid longstanding feuds—factors Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi has linked to gang violence. However, Sheriff Patrick Withrow has not publicly named targets, stating the gunmen "walked into this area and was probably looking for somebody in particular." Two associates of the rappers were briefly detained on unrelated parole violations but released without charges tied to the shooting.

Investigation and Community Response
- Manhunt: Detectives are analyzing surveillance video and witness statements, believing the suspects fled in a vehicle. Tips can be submitted anonymously to (209) 946-0600 or via federal channels.
- Broader Context: Stockton, long plagued by gang activity, has seen a surge in targeted violence. Councilmember Michele Padilla called this "something no one will forget," noting it "hits differently" than typical street shootings. Governor Gavin Newsom ordered state flags at half-staff in honor of the victims.
- Community Impact: Families are grappling with grief and financial burdens; a GoFundMe for Maya Lupian's family highlights her vibrant spirit. Local outlets like 209 Times have amplified calls for justice, while online discourse debates accountability for event organizers amid gang tensions.

This incident underscores the devastating spillover of interpersonal and gang conflicts into innocent spaces. As the investigation unfolds, community leaders urge unity and vigilance to prevent further tragedy. Updates are expected as leads develop.