Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy has pledged to cover all funeral expenses for the victims of a devastating mass shooting at a birthday party in Stockton, California. The tragic incident, which occurred on Saturday, 30 November, left multiple people dead, including children.
An Emotional Connection Spurs Action
The 34-year-old singer, whose real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, said he felt a profound emotional connection to the story after hearing about it on the popular American radio show, The Breakfast Club. Moved by the reports, Burna Boy connected with music executive Wack 100 and subsequently with Jason Lee, a prominent media personality and the Vice Mayor of Stockton, to facilitate his offer of support.
San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow confirmed on Sunday that the victims' ages ranged from 21 down to just eight years old. The shooting took place inside and outside a hall where approximately 100 people had gathered. Sheriff Withrow stated that multiple individuals may have been involved in the attack, which he described as a 'targeted incident.'
Community Leaders Condemn 'Senseless' Violence
In a powerful statement, Sheriff Withrow called for community solidarity, declaring, 'This is a time for our community to show that we will not put up with this type of behaviour, when people will just walk in and kill children.' He urged anyone with information to come forward, warning that silence equates to complacency.
Vice Mayor Jason Lee delivered an impassioned speech at a public assembly on Monday, condemning the perpetrators. 'It's never been gangster to kill kids - never,' Lee stated. 'You went into a birthday party and shot people's children. Parents brought their children out, and they left with medical examiners - that is not human.'
Drawing from his own painful experience of losing a brother to violence, Lee urged against retaliation and instead encouraged cooperation with law enforcement. He directly addressed the shooters, saying, 'At some point, the redemption for what you did is gonna happen... but you could start that process by turning yourself in.'
A Plea for Information and a Path Forward
Law enforcement continues to investigate the massacre, with Sheriff's spokesperson Heather Brent emphasising that detectives are treating it as a targeted attack. The public has been urged to provide any information, 'even rumours,' to aid the investigation.
Roscoe Brown from Stockton’s Office of Violence Prevention echoed the community's anguish at a Sunday vigil, asking, 'Who would come and do that to some kids, you know? You can’t shoot up a party - that’s senseless - a kid’s party, at that.'
Burna Boy's intervention provides a measure of financial relief to the grieving families amidst the horror. His act, spurred by media coverage and facilitated by local figures, highlights a cross-community response to a senseless act of violence that has shocked both Stockton and observers internationally.
