Latest news with #JasmineGrubbs
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
'Forever our Spiderman': Friends and family remember slain 4-year-old at funeral repast
On the afternoon of Saturday, July 12, Samir Grubbs returned to his 'Spiderman playground' one last time as his funeral procession paused in front of the park where he loved to play. The 4-year-old, who was tragically killed in a drive-by shooting on June 27 at Skinner Park while playing at the playground, went with his mother often, running around and pretending to be Spiderman. With the help of the Detroit Police Department and Detroit Public Safety Department, Samir's mother, Jasmine Grubbs, of Detroit, stopped the procession momentarily and held his repast at the park in an attempt to show the community that it should be a place where kids feel safe to play. 'So many kids are scared to go to the park now; they're scared to go outside and play,' said Grubbs. 'My main thing was to bring all of them together and do what my son loved to do, which is play. 'No kid should be scared to go to the park. The park is not the enemy,' she told the Free Press on July 12. Three bounce houses, a Thomas the Tank Engine train ride, and customized cupcakes and chips with Samir's face on them were just some of the tribute items on hand at Samir's funeral repast. Minus the Tank Engine, the entire celebration was Spiderman-themed in honor of Samir's beloved superhero. People who had never met Samir or his family donated goodies, tablecloths, food and decorations, including backdrops of blown-up photos of Samir's smiling face, to the event. Grubbs' cousin, Tristan Shannon, 35, whose 4-year-old daughter, Talyn, was one of the last to have a playdate with Samir, said that, as a city of Detroit employee, she had never seen anything like it before. 'To see the city pull together like this to back my cousin, it makes me very happy to be a city employee," she said. "I've seen the city rally behind people — I've never seen it like this. This is phenomenal.' Samir's mother, too, was moved by the outpouring of support. Multiple state and local agencies came together to cover the costs of the funeral, cremation and repast for the family. 'For everybody to take absolute care about his name, about his memory, like the Detroiters do and the chief and the police department. I'm just overwhelmed," Grubbs said. "I'm sad that he's not here, but I'm grateful for everyone holding me up.' The repast was attended by dozens of Samir's aunts, uncles, friends, and cousins, none of whom could tell a story about Samir without laughing at the memory of the funny, bubbly boy. Grubbs' brother and Samir's uncle, Antonio Shannon, 42, who lives in Arizona, often spoke to Samir when he would video call his mom, Samir's grandmother. Samir would always be in the background on the other end, he said, pestering her about who was on the phone. More: 'We need everybody': Detroit leaders mobilize after child, teen killed in triple shooting More: 2 suspects charged in fatal shooting at Detroit's Skinner Playfield 'It's uncle Tony!' Antonio would yell from the other side of the screen. Immediately, he said, Samir would jump into frame, stick out his arm, and pretend to 'web' Antonio on the other side. 'I'd tell him, 'OK, I'm going to get you when I come to the city,' " said Antonio, laughing a little at the memory, before pausing with a sigh. 'It's hurting. Now when I call, it's silent in the background. I don't hear him running around.' Another cousin, Kai El, who said she was listed in the obituary as Samir's "bonus mom," described Samir as a mischievous kid, and 'such a happy baby' who was 'always laughing and smiling.' Samir's dad, Stanley Grubbs, who lives in Alabama, described Samir as having a mind of his own. He said he and Samir loved to poke fun at each other, calling each other silly names on the phone. Like many other relatives, Stanley said Samir was the one in charge, getting his dad to push him around in a stroller even when he could walk on his own. The last time the two called, Stanley says Samir told him he was going to come visit him in Alabama. 'Even though he was the baby, he always thought he was the oldest,' Stanley Grubbs said with a smile. 'If he wanted something big, he'd get his older brother and pull him, saying 'come on, come on, come on.' 'He will be missed.' As she continues to grieve, Jasmine Grubbs hopes that the park can bring the same peace to the rest of the community that it does to her. 'The park to me represents peace, joy, just an overall sense of 'kid-liness,' she said. 'It represents a lot of peace for me. Some people think I'm sad when I'm here, but I'm not. I just come here because my son's spirit's here. And I want everyone to experience that peace and that joy that he had.' 'Samir's always been the one that brings everybody together,' said his mom, gesturing to the crowds gathering in front of the playground. 'And so, he did it again.' Aurora Sousanis is a summer intern at the Detroit Free Press. She can be reached at asousanis@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Friends, family honor slain Detroit 4-year-old at funeral repast
CBS News
02-07-2025
- CBS News
Two people in police custody in Detroit park shooting that killed 4-year-old, teen
Detroit police say two persons of interest are in custody in connection with a shooting at a park that left a 4-year-old boy and an 18-year-old dead. Further details about the two were not immediately available. The case involves a shooting early Friday at Skinner Playfield in the area of Morang Avenue and Duchess Street near Denby High School. A 4-year-old boy and an 18-year-old were both killed in the incident; a 17-year-old was also injured. Jasmine Grubbs, the mother of the 4-year-old boy, said she had brought her children to the park on Detroit's east side. Shortly afterwards, shots were fired. She then rushed the child to Henry Ford St. John Hospital, where he died. Community groups and police met Saturday afternoon to canvass the area in their search for the shooter. Police had two persons of interest in custody Friday night, but later released them.
CBS News
30-06-2025
- CBS News
Detroit mother of 4-year-old boy killed in park shooting speaks out: "They robbed my baby of so much"
After a 4-year-old boy was shot and killed while spending the evening at a playground in Detroit, his mother is speaking out to get justice for her son. "They robbed my baby of so much, they robbed me of so much," said Jasmine Grubbs. Grubbs says that on Friday, she loaded up the car and brought her children to Skinner Playfield to enjoy her night off with her family. As they arrived, Grubbs says her 4-year-old son Samir couldn't wait to start playing. "He was the first one out of the car; he was just running over there," said Grubbs. Moments later, everything changed. "As soon as I hit the end button, […] this coward just started shooting," said Grubbs. Grubbs says she originally couldn't figure out what was happening or where the bullets were coming from. "It sounded kind of like it was far and close at the same time. I just told everyone, 'Get down, get down,'" she said. Once it became quiet, she thought things had gone back to normal until she couldn't find Samir. "My baby ran over there to get his brother, and he said, 'Mama, he won't get up. He won't get up,'" said Grubbs. Grubbs says what followed is still a blur, seeing Samir and another boy lying on the playground. "I felt so helpless, I wanted to help both of them, but I didn't even have enough strength to carry my own baby," she said. She rushed her son to the hospital herself, hoping he would pull through, and said she would never forget the moment he passed. "It just took my soul, like my soul just left," she said. Grubbs says that pain brought her to speak at the launch of "Protect The Zone" on Monday, hoping to push other parents and politicians to fight for their kids. "Actions speak louder than words. The only way you will get my vote for anything from this day forward is this: you're going to have to make a change," said Grubbs. It's a change she says she plans to see through in honor of her son.
CBS News
30-06-2025
- CBS News
Detroit community organizations launching new initiative after recent shootings
In less than 24 hours, the community around Skinner Playfield near Duchess Street and Morang Avenue in Detroit was rocked by the shooting deaths of three people, including 4-year-old Samir Grubbs. "You would have definitely, never, ever, forgotten about Samir and you will not forget him, as long as I have breath in my body," said his mother, Jasmine Grubbs. In response, leaders of all the city's Community Violence Intervention organizations gathered to announce their newest initiative, "Protect the Zone," steps from where those lives were lost. "We are tired, and we are sick of this deadly disease. This should not have happened. This should not have happened," said Quincy Smith, executive director of Team Pursuit. "We're going to show up and support. This is not our zone. This is not our community, but the leaders in this community have the full support of every organization inside of Detroit. That's how Detroit is moving from now on," said DuJuan "Zoe" Kennedy, executive director of Force Detroit. Teams of all ages took off immediately, putting boots on the ground to knock on every door in the neighborhood. "We're also speaking to legislators, decision makers, people who have the power to fund public safety and put us in a position, so this doesn't happen again," said Smith. Their goal is to encourage parents to engage with their children, connecting them with resources to help prevent senseless acts of violence in the future. "This isn't a partisan issue! This is the most nonpartisan issue on the face of the planet!" said community activist Teferi Brent. Organizers say they plan to visit every neighborhood in Detroit with their message to offer direct support, with what they call for zone and community-by-community approach.
CBS News
28-06-2025
- CBS News
Mother of 4-year-old killed at Detroit playground calls for shooter to turn themselves in
A mother is speaking out after her 4-year-old son was one of two people shot and killed in a park on Detroit's east side Friday. Detroit police say the shooting happened early Friday evening at Skinner Playfield in the area of Morang Avenue and Duchess Street near Denby High School. An 18-year-old was also killed in the shooting, and a third person, a 17-year-old, was also injured. Jasmine Grubbs is still in shock and disbelief after her 4-year-old son, Samir, was killed in the shooting. Grubbs brought her five children to Skinner Park on Friday, and within minutes of arriving, she says shots were fired. "Couldn't have been here no more than five minutes, and we just started hearing shooting," Grubbs said. Grubbs rushed her son to Henry Ford St. John Hospital, where he died. "I pulled up to the hospital, and they took him out of my arms, and that's the last time I seen him," she said. Grubbs says she had to break the news to her other four children Saturday morning. "I had to sit my other kids down and explain to them that he wasn't coming home," she said. "They thought he was cause they were saying, 'Is he all right?' Reverend WJ Rideout III, a community activist and pastor at All God's People Church in Roseville, says the community needs to do more to protect children from senseless gun violence. "Very disheartening, very disheartening. One killing of a child is one too many. I'm just bombarded with pain and agony," he said. "We have to come together as a community and have a collaborative effort, and keeping our kids safe here in the city of Detroit, in the streets, in these parks." Community groups and police met Saturday afternoon to canvass the area in their search for the shooter. Police had two persons of interest in custody Friday night but later released them. Grubbs is urging the shooter to turn themselves in. "Just turn yourself in," Grubbs said. "I know people act off impulse and they're not really thinking, but you know, now that you killed kids, I just want you to know, the best thing to do is turn yourself in." The shooting remains under investigation. If you have any information, you are asked to call Detroit police. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
