STOCKTON, Calif. – The heartbreak in Stockton deepens with every name released. On Wednesday, family and friends confirmed that 8-year-old Maya Lupian was among the six lives stolen in Saturday’s mass shooting at a children’s birthday party in the Conway Homes neighborhood.
Maya, a vibrant third-grader at Aspire Apex Academy, was the second child identified among the victims. Described by her devastated family as “the most outgoing little girl you could ever meet,” Maya filled every room with song, dance, and unstoppable energy.
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She was a purple-belt in karate (one of the youngest in her dojo to reach that rank) and could often be found practicing high kicks in the living room or drawing colorful masterpieces that covered the family refrigerator. Teachers say she was just as proud of her straight-A report cards as she was of her latest kata.
“Maya didn’t walk into a room; she danced into it,” her aunt Vanessa Lupian told reporters through tears outside the family’s home. “She made everyone feel like they were her best friend, even if she’d just met them five minutes earlier.”
On the day of the shooting, Maya had been celebrating her cousin’s birthday, wearing her favorite sparkly dress and light-up sneakers, excited to show off a new dance routine she’d been practicing for weeks.
Instead of coming home with cake-smeared cheeks and balloons, Maya became the youngest confirmed victim of the deadliest shooting in Stockton history.
At Aspire Apex Academy Wednesday morning, Maya’s desk sat covered in flowers, handwritten notes, and origami cranes made by classmates. Counselors remained on campus all week, and the school’s flag flew at half-staff beside a growing memorial of stuffed animals and purple ribbons (her favorite color).
“She was our little warrior,” her karate sensei posted on social media. “Maya earned every stripe through sweat and smiles. The dojo will never be the same.”
As Stockton prepares to lay another child to rest, Maya Lupian’s name joins Journey Rose’s on the heartbreaking roll call of innocence lost, a stark reminder that the youngest victims of gun violence often have the biggest dreams.
Rest in peace, Maya. Keep dancing among the stars. 🕊️💜