Jason Lee Calls on Suspects To Turn Themselves In After Brutal Stockton Birthday Party Shooting
Tragedy hit Stockton hard this weekend, and Vice Mayor Jason Lee isn’t staying quiet about it. The Hollywood Unlocked founder stepped into full community-protector mode after a mass shooting at a children’s birthday party left four people dead and 11 others wounded. As the city mourns, Lee is calling the suspects out directly and urging them to come forward.
The Vice Mayor spoke at a vigil on Sunday (Nov. 30), addressing the heartbreak and anger gripping the community. The shooting, reported by CNN, unfolded during what was supposed to be a joyful celebration. Instead, families left the birthday party without their children, and the city was left reeling.
Jason Lee didn’t hold back. Speaking with raw honesty and compassion, he said: “What I will say to the people that did this is: 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.”
That message hit deep because it came from someone who has lived this pain personally. Lee’s brother, 27-year-old Rodney Townsend, was killed in Stockton in 1997 after being caught in the crossfire during a shooting at a bowling alley, according to The Stockton Record.
Lee continued, offering a messagenot just of accountability, but of redemption:
“And I will say to those who are thinking of retaliation: when my brother got murdered, I thought about it too. It’s human to want to hurt people who hurt people you love. But I had a choice to make and I hope that the people out there in our community make the right choice and contact law enforcement, call me, call the mayor, call whoever you know, call the pastors, call your friend, turn yourself in. Because at some point the redemption for what you did is going to happen when you see the person that created you. But you can start that process by turning yourself in and doing the right thing today.”
This wasn’t political. It wasn’t performative. This was Stockton speaking to Stockton. A city pleading with itself to heal.
Stockton Community Grieves: Children Among the Victims of the Birthday Party Mass Shooting
The details of this tragedy are gut-wrenching. The shooting took place inside a banquet hall just before 6 p.m., with 100 to 150 people in attendance. Families came to celebrate a child’s birthday and instead witnessed horror that no community should ever experience.
Among the victims were:• 21-year-old Susano Archuleta• 14-year-old Amari Peterson• Two other children, ages eight and nine
Let that sink in. Babies. Kids who should have been laughing, blowing out birthday candles, eating snacks, and running around with their friends. Their lives were stolen in seconds.
Officials believe the attack may have been targeted. Heather Brent, spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, told reporters: “Early indications suggest this may have been a targeted incident. This is a very active and ongoing investigation, and information remains limited.”
Sheriff Patrick Withrow also addressed the public, promising accountability and justice:
“I am confident in our team and with the work that we have done so far that we will find these animals that did this and bring them justice, but we still need the public’s help.”
He added: “We’re confident that this was not a random act. We’re not gonna say whether it’s gang-related or not, until we have all the facts in front of us.”
According to NBC News, a $25,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. Justice is not optional. It’s necessary.
Why Jason Lee’s Message Matters: Accountability, Community Healing, and Ending the Cycle
Jason Lee didn’t just call out the suspects. He spoke to an entire community in pain. In Stockton, like too many cities across America, cycles of violence often feel endless. Retaliation becomes a reflex. Trauma gets inherited like family property.
But Lee stopped the room cold when he reminded people of what real strength looks like. Standing in front of grieving families, he made it clear: violence won’t save anybody. It only multiplies pain.This moment matters because it’s someone local. Someone credible. Someone who has walked through this same fire. When Lee talks about choosing not to retaliate after his brother’s killing, he isn’t theorizing. He’s speaking on survival.
He’s urging Stockton to break a generational curse. He’s pushing for accountability and peace at the same time. He’s choosing humanity in a situation that feels inhumane.
And honestly, that message hits different coming from a Black leader who understands the streets, the trauma, and the culture, while also demanding better from all of us.
Community Leaders, Law Enforcement, and Families Unite To Demand Justice
In the wake of the shooting, Stockton is coming together. Community leaders, pastors, grieving families, and elected officials are demanding answers and calling for calm.
Law enforcement is urging anyone with information to step up, even if it feels small or insignificant. In cases like this, the smallest detail can unlock the truth.
