STOCKTON, Calif. — The family of 14-year-old Amari Peterson is trying to make sense of the mass shooting that killed him during a birthday celebration in Stockton, California.
His father, Patrick Peterson, said the weekend gathering was meant to honor a two-year-old’s birthday, not become a memorial for his son two days later.
Peterson says he remembered the day Amari was born, calling him “the perfect gift from God.” Now, he’s left with the memory of his son’s final moments.
“All I can see is my son crawling on the ground and me trying to resuscitate him,” Peterson said.
Amari died after being shot above the heart, Peterson said. He and his family were among dozens of people celebrating inside the building Saturday when gunfire erupted. Four people died and 11 others were hurt.
“I just heard gunshots and then the shooter came in,” Peterson said. “I turned my back and I looked at him and I just start seeing him shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot.”
Peterson says his daughter was grazed in the chaos. He tried to reach Amari as people ran in all directions.
“Everybody (was) running off and my son is just sitting there crawling, just trying to get up,” he said. “I’m trying to give him CPR and he just has blood coming out of his face. It’s just something that a father should never have to go through.”
He says the scene replays in his mind whenever he tries to lie down.
“I’m like laying over my son while he’s sitting there breathing… trying to breathe…” he said. “Every day he would tell me, ‘Dad, I love you. Dad, I appreciate you.’ Every night, every morning that boy would tell me he loved me.”
Peterson describes his son as a “gentle soul,” loved by many and passionate about sports.
“He loved sports, he loved football. He loved basketball,” Peterson said. “He ran a little bit of track but overall, he was a gentle soul.”
He says he still can’t understand why this happened. The motive in the shooting hasn’t been released and investigators say they are still working the case.
About the Author
