California mass shooting victim Maya Lupian weeks away from birthday when killed at Stockton party

An 8-year-old girl described as “the light in everyone’s life” was two weeks shy of her 9th birthday when she was gunned down during a shooting at a child’s birthday party in California, her grieving family revealed.

Maya Lupian, a third grader from Stockton, was one of three kids tragically killed during the mass shooting inside a banquet hall on Saturday. Four people in total were killed, including a heroic 21-year-old man, while 11 others were also wounded during the frightening scene.

“Maya was the most outgoing 8-year-old you’d ever meet,” her sister, Yesenia, wrote on GoFundMe Tuesday. “She loved to dance, sing and draw. She was a purple belt in karate, and she loved being active. Maya was the light in everyone’s life, the sweetest soul.”

Lupian was supposed to celebrate her 9th birthday exactly two weeks after the tragic party.

“She deserved a childhood full of laughter, school days, karate, family time and dreams… not this,” Yesenia wrote. “We would have been celebrating her 9th birthday in just 2 weeks on December 13th.

“We are devastated, heartbroken and trying to navigate the impossible. As we work through overwhelming grief and emotions that accompany a tragedy like this, we are facing unexpected financial burdens, time away from work and want to secure ongoing support as we process this loss,” the heartbroken sister said.

A fellow 8-year-old, Journey Rose Reotutar Guerrero, was identified by her mother as another victim in the mass tragedy.

The third-grader was celebrating her cousin’s birthday when gunfire turned the happy gathering deadly.

“Journey was always an inspiration for her family to do their best. She would always offer a helping hand to anyone she knew. She was a smart girl who loved trivia and solving math games,” her mother Jackie Reotutar wrote on GoFundMe.

“Journey was growing up beautifully and should have had a long life where she could learn and play as much as she pleased. She had so many dreams and goals she wanted to reach,” she said. “Journey wanted to be a cheerleader when she entered high school & to continue her love for gymnastics. She wished to become a doctor & follow in her sister’s footsteps. She wanted to help people.”

When the shooting broke out, one 21-year-old rushed some of the children and his girlfriend to a closet to escape danger. He was fatally struck by the gunfire.

Susano Archuleta, 21, was hailed a hero for his actions before his death, his father and stepmother told KCRA. Archuleta was shot in the neck and died at the scene, his girlfriend was also shot but survived.

“I’m just upset right now. My brother died in my arms,” Archuleta’s brother Emmanuel Lopez told The Times.

Lopez’s own daughter, 9, was shot in the head but also survived.

Amari Peterson, 14, was identified as the teen boy killed in the shooting.

“My baby was innocent,” heartbroken mother Kim Peterson told the Stockton Record. “We were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Who would have known my baby wasn’t gonna come home with me?”

Over 100 people had filled the banquet hall for the celebration when the shooting broke out as the 2-year-old birthday girl was cutting her cake.

“I actually thought it was my balloons popping. It was gunshots,” Patrice Williams said, revealing the partygoers dropped to the floor.

The toddler’s mother first believed the gunfire to be her balloons popping.

“It was just unexpected. I don’t know what happened, and I’m just so shocked and lost,” Williams added.

Authorities haven’t identified any suspects but have indicated the shooting was gang-related.

Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi described the shooting attack as a “pure act of terrorism. A complete, cowardly terrorist attack.”

Rapper MBnel was allegedly targeted in the attack, his father told The Post Monday.

MBnel — real name Johnel Dongon — was shot in the butt as he dropped off a gift for his pal’s daughter.

“He just came to drop off a present at his friend’s party, whose daughter was the celebrant,” Junior Dongon said.

“He was shot, but he is OK. … He called me and said, ‘Don’t say anything to anybody,’” he continued.