MBNel is breaking its silence on the Stockton mass shooting that left four people dead at a child’s birthday party. The rapper issued his first statement since the Nov. 29 tragedy that left three children and one adult dead.
Witnesses told authorities that MBNel was attending a birthday party when a gunman opened fire in the banquet hall. The shooting happened at a field in unincorporated San Joaquin County around 6 p.m.
“My deepest condolences go out to the family who had to bury their child and the innocent lives lost,” MBNel wrote on social media on Friday. “What happened in Stockton has caused an unimaginable loss to the family.”
The rapper said he would not discuss the details of what happened.
“There are no words to explain this and I don’t want to add noise where the concern should be,” he continued. “This is about family, not other people.”
MBNel confirmed he is no longer in the public eye following the tragedy.
“I choose to act quietly and intentionally out of respect,” he said. “I won’t go into details or speculation.”
The victims included 8-year-old Maya Lucian, 9-year-old Journey Rose Reotutar Guerrero, 14-year-old Amari Peterson and 21-year-old Susano Archuleta. Thirteen others were injured in the attack.
Authorities said multiple gunmen dressed in black fired more than 50 rounds from at least five weapons. The gunman was wearing a face mask when he attacked the two-year-old’s birthday celebrations.
MBNel’s father confirmed his son was targeted.
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“He just came to his friend’s party to give gifts, and his friend’s daughter was the master of ceremonies,” Junior Tungon told the New York Post. “He was shot, but he was OK. He called me and said, ‘Don’t say anything to anybody.'”
Amari Peterson’s father described his son as the “glue of the family” who his young children looked up to. The teen played basketball and was trying to stay away from gang activity when he was killed.
San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said Thursday that the investigation is “going very well,” but provided no new details about suspects or arrests. Gang leaders in Stockton reportedly brokered a 21-day ceasefire after the shooting.
MBNel, known for his 2020 album Born To Win, had been active on social media before the shooting. The 28-year-old rapper has been involved in other violent incidents in the area before.
