A deadly cycle of retaliatory violence has erupted in Stockton, California, claiming multiple lives and wounding over a dozen people, including children, in a span of hours. The violence, tied to an escalating feud between local street crews, escalated from a targeted murder to a mass shooting at a child’s birthday party, leaving the community in shock.
The tragic sequence began with the killing of a 26-year-old man, identified as Tommy, on the evening of May 29, 2024. He was shot multiple times while sitting in a car on Tilden Park Street. His two young children, aged five and six, were in the back seat during the attack; one sustained minor injuries from shattered glass. Stockton Police Department officials confirmed the homicide and described the community impact as profound, but the case initially remained unsolved.
This murder is widely believed in the community to be a catalyst for the horrific violence that followed. Online speculation and musical disses from local figures pointed to ongoing tensions, with some lyrics allegedly referencing the killing and the presence of the victim’s children. The situation reached a boiling point over the Thanksgiving weekend.
On Saturday, November 29, 2025, a family gathering at a banquet hall on Lucille Avenue near Thornton Road turned into a massacre. The event was a birthday party for the daughter of a local man known as “Nano,” a figure connected to the local rap scene and street crews. Gunfire erupted inside the hall, turning a celebration into a war zone.
The Stockton Police Department confirmed a staggering casualty count: fourteen people were shot. Four of those victims succumbed to their injuries. The deceased included two children, ages 8 and 14, and two adults, ages 22 and 30. Multiple victims, including a nine-year-old child listed in fair condition, were transported to area hospitals. Officials have described the attack as a targeted assault.
“This is Thanksgiving weekend. This is when families come together, celebrate, share memories, give each other love,” said San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas in an emotional press conference. “And unfortunately, tonight, heaven is a little bigger.” Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi echoed the sentiment, calling the violence “unfathomable” and urging anyone with information to come forward.
The shooting has been linked by sources and online commentary to the same feud that prompted the May homicide. The conflict reportedly involves local sets with deep community ties, including groups known as Fly Boys and MB (Mug Brothers), which have Filipino and Pacific Islander roots but include members from various backgrounds. These crews have a documented presence in Stockton’s street culture and the local music scene.
One prominent figure connected to these groups is rapper MB Nelly (also known as Neil), whose song was once used by the San Francisco 49ers. He was among 33 individuals arrested in a major 2020 gang sweep, but later discussed the case publicly. While unconfirmed by authorities, rumors persist that he was among those wounded in the banquet hall shooting.
Hours after the mass shooting, a heavy police presence descended upon the Fruittown neighborhood, an area connected to rival factions, indicating fears of further retaliation. The district attorney vowed to bring the full force of his office to bear, promising accountability for the perpetrator or perpetrators who remain at large.
The events have laid bare the devastating collateral damage of street conflicts, with children and families bearing the brunt of the violence. “Whenever something happens like this, especially a homicide, it doesn’t just affect a victim and maybe that exact residence,” a Stockton police spokesperson said after the May killing. “That entire community is impacted.” That impact has now multiplied, leaving a city to mourn and grapple with a weekend of unspeakable loss.