Burna Boy Steps Up to Help Families of Children Affected by Stockton Birthday Party Tragedy
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Burna Boy has committed to covering the funeral expenses for four victims of a tragic mass shooting in Stockton, California. The incident, which occurred during a children’s birthday party on Saturday, November 29, has drawn national attention.
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“When I heard about the children murdered in Stockton, my heart broke. After hearing the story on The Breakfast Club, I reached out to Wack 100 and connected with Jason Lee because no family should ever face this kind of pain alone,” Burna Boy stated in a press release. “I wanted to do whatever I could to support these parents as they begin the long process of healing.”
The artist expressed particular sorrow for Amari Peterson, a 14-year-old who excelled academically and athletically. “Burna Boy’s generosity is an example of how people around the world want to help, even when they’ve never met the families impacted,” remarked Jason Lee, Stockton’s Vice Mayor and founder of Hollywood Unlocked.
At a vigil for the victims over the weekend, Lee added, “It’s never been gangsta to kill kids. Never. You went in a birthday party and shot people’s children. Parents brought their children out and they left with medical examiners. That is not human.”
As reported by NBC News, the shooter remains at large. Authorities are searching for an unidentified suspect, and there may have been multiple shooters involved.
Approximately 100 guests were attending the birthday celebration in North Stockton when gunfire erupted around 6 p.m. PT. Eleven individuals were injured and taken to hospitals. In addition to 14-year-old Peterson, the other victims were aged eight, nine, and 21.
This holiday season, Burna Boy continues his commitment to giving back. Earlier this week, the Grammy-winning artist visited the Boston Arts Academy, where he pledged support for the school’s Free Bodega program to assist students’ daily needs.
