Overview
- A pop-up birthday party promoted on social media and livestreamed on Twitch drew roughly 300 people to a field near Hale and Miramonte and turned deadly when gunfire erupted on Saturday night, leaving one person dead and six others shot.
- Family members identified the person killed as Desiderio “Desi/Pepper” Romero and friends and neighbors have held vigils while a GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses.
- Investigators say a handgun was used, detectives have interviewed dozens of witnesses, no arrests have been announced, and the shooter remains at large as authorities press attendees for photos, video and tips.
- Officials say the gathering was unsanctioned, organizers had not obtained required county permits, the property owner was reportedly unaware of the event, and witnesses say a man with a gun bypassed private security before shots were fired.
- The party’s livestream and the host’s online profile have intensified fallout with the streamer posting condolences and reporting death threats, raising fresh questions about safety, oversight and how social-media promoted pop-ups should be managed.