Latest news with #SamirGrubbs
Yahoo
2 days ago
- 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
07-07-2025
- CBS News
Detroit police, mayor present summer teen violence prevention plan
In response to a series of violent incidents in the city this summer, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Police Chief Todd A. Bettison are introducing a summer safety teen violence prevention plan. The discussion includes a plan to address juvenile curfew violations in response to a trend in youth-involved incidents this summer. The City of Detroit launched its "Regulation of Minors in Public Places and Adult Responsibility for Violations," also known as the curfew law, during the mid-1980s. The press conference is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. How to watch City of Detroit press conference What: Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Detroit Police Chief Todd A. Bettison talking about teen violence prevention efforts. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Detroit Police Chief Todd A. Bettison talking about teen violence prevention efforts. Date: Monday July 7, 2025 Monday July 7, 2025 Time: 1 p.m. ET 1 p.m. ET Online stream: Live on the player above and on your mobile or streaming device During one such incident, three people were shot at Skinner Playfield, leaving two dead: an 18-year-old who has not been named and 4-year-old Samir Grubbs. Later, authorities arrested two teens in connection. Days before the park shooting, a 17-year-old was shot during the Ford Fireworks show. And in yet another incident, a teen was shot in the head on the city's east side. "You're going to see a whole lot of this police chief this summer. You're going to see me riding buses. You're going to see me not only walking a mile, but you're going to see me everywhere. Because I believe in being boots on the ground and we're going to make a difference, and you make a difference by being present," Bettison said last week.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Yahoo
2 suspects arrested in fatal shooting of child, teen at Skinner Playfield in Detroit
Two teenage suspects were arrested Wednesday, July 2, in connection with the triple shooting at Detroit's Skinner Playfield that took the lives of a 4-year-old and teenager, police confirmed. Charges against the two suspects have yet to be announced by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. Detroit police had arrested two people in connection with the shooting shortly after the incident June 27, but they had been released. Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said Wednesday that police determined those two had nothing to do with the incident. As for the two arrested on Wednesday: 'I will not call them persons of interest. I will call them suspects. I am confident that we have the right individuals — highly, highly confident,' Bettison said as he addressed reporters at his biweekly 'Walk-A-Mile Wednesdays' in the community. 'What's just sad about it is, even though we've apprehended them, I can't bring anybody back,' he said of the victims. Bettison said he would not say more about the arrests until Worthy makes a charging decision. Samir Josiah Grubbs, 4, was at the park next to Denby High School with his mother and siblings when he was shot to death before he could make it up the playground slide's ladder. Dayvion Shelmonson-Bey, 18, was also killed. A 17-year-old was also shot and survived. When asked on Wednesday whether any of the teenagers shot was the intended victim, Bettison said: 'I absolutely believe so, yes.' More: 'We need everybody': Detroit leaders mobilize after child, teen killed in triple shooting More: Police searching for man who shot fellow passenger on DDOT bus in Detroit A dispute is believed to be the reason behind the bloodshed, Bettison has said. It's a tragedy in Detroit that has once again propelled community members and violence intervention groups into action. A few days after the shooting, Team Pursuit and other violence intervention groups went door-to-door in the neighborhood passing out resources, including a summer youth engagement program. This story was updated to add new Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2 suspects arrested in fatal shooting of child, teen at Detroit park
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Yahoo
'We need everybody': Detroit leaders mobilize after child, teen killed in triple shooting
Samir Josiah Grubbs, 4, didn't have time to even make it up the slide's ladder at the Skinner Playfield next to Denby High School in Detroit before he was shot to death. He beat his mom, Jasmine Grubbs, out of the car once they got to the park on June 27 — "that was his thing," she said — and raced towards the slide. They'd only been at the playground for a minute before gunfire erupted. She remembers everything in slow motion: Samir climbing, then shot in the back. Grubbs feels empty now, because to everyone else, Samir was a 4-year-old boy, but to her, "Samir Josiah Grubbs was my everything. He was my world," she said while she returned to Skinner Playfield days after her son was killed, holding a small toy car he left in her bed. In response to the bloodshed, Team Pursuit, a community violence intervention group in the area, mobilized CVI leaders from all over the city to Skinner Playfield on Monday, June 30 to demand more from the community — including themselves, parents, lawmakers and decision makers — to help the city's youth, to prevent more loss of life. "We're going to touch every single household in this community. We are hitting the block — today," Quincy Smith, executive director of Team Pursuit, told the crowd at Skinner Playfield. Samir wasn't the only victim of Friday's triple shooting. An 18-year-old boy, Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey, was killed, too. His father, Joseph Shelmonson-Bey, said the teen was always helping others, so he wasn't surprised to hear from witnesses that his son pushed a friend out of the way, the fatal rounds hitting his son instead. A 17-year-old was also shot but survived. Detroit police had two people of interest in custody shortly after the shooting, but they've since been released, the department confirmed Monday. They're asking for anyone with information to come forward. "We are still asking the community for their help in providing any information, video footage and anything additional that can assist in the investigation," said Jasmin Barmore, a spokesperson for Detroit police. More: 4-year-old child, teenager killed in triple shooting at park by Denby High School More: Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison: 'We're going to have a clean and safe summer.' The violence intervention groups at Skinner Playfield had flyers with information on resources, like Team Pursuit's summer youth engagement program called "Protect the Zone," to hand out to neighbors. But before they set out, Smith recalled the moment he heard the news of Friday's tragedy. "I said, 'another 4-year-old?'" Smith said. "My heart broke because I'm tired of it. You should be tired of it ... No more staying at home and watching the news and saying 'that's a damn shame.' We need everybody." Joseph Shelmonson-Bey said he doesn't want another father to have to lose a child like he had. For him, that requires accountability. Shelmonson-Bey and Grubbs went to Skinner Playfield with violence intervention groups to share what it's like to lose a child − "I can't even explain it," the father said. "As community, we need to hold ourselves accountable ... We need to speak out," Shelmonson-Bey said. More: $200 dispute may have sparked shooting that injured 2 during Detroit fireworks, police say Before the group assembled at Skinner Playfield went door to door, Maurice Hardwick, known as "Pastor Moe" made a promise to Detroit on behalf of the CVI leaders at the park: "Change is coming. Now, now, now." Phillip Sample, joined by dozens of others who have been doing the work for years to ensure their neighborhoods are safe, was energized when the group took to the streets surrounding Skinner Playfield to pass out flyers. He gave them to everyone he saw, like those in the three cars pulling out of the Family Dollar on Payton and Morang. As for the homes that went unanswered, he left flyers at their doors. Sandy Turner of 4820Live, a longtime organizer in the neighborhood, was energized, too. What brought her to the streets that day isn't different from why Skinner Playfield was built in the first place. It was built by the community in 2016 with safety as its purpose, she said. "We built the playground for these babies ... Who would have thought that somebody was senseless enough to shoot by a playscape? A playscape," she said. But when they reached the playground where the shooting occurred, Sample, Turner, and the rest of the group became solemn. Sample said where they now stood was hallowed ground — it was the spot where a dispute ended in bloodshed, taking the lives of Samir, who loved to play and jump on his mother's bed in the mornings, and Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey, who took anyone in need in as a brother or sister, who his father loved raising. So it was there that Sample decided the group would pray for the lives lost, for justice and for peace. Pastor Moe was one of the clergymen who led a prayer. When he did, he got on his hands and knees, other men followed suit. "We touch this ground, this blood on this ground. We honor the life of this baby. We honor the lives of our children," he cried aloud. Sample was among the men on the ground, now in tears. The group would chime in: "yes, yes." It was Dujuan "Zoe" Kennedy of Force Detroit, though, that wouldn't let the group leave without remembering what Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey's father had demanded. "Look who's out here right now," Kennedy said. To those who didn't show up: "Hold them accountable," he said. Turner, Sample, and others will be back in the neighborhood on Tuesday, passing out flyers and sharing resources. Team Pursuit will have officially launched its "Protect the Zone" youth program. And Grubbs and Shelmonson-Bey will still hope their grief will actually prompt change. Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit leaders mobilize after child, teen killed in triple shooting
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Yahoo
2 suspects charged in fatal shooting at Detroit's Skinner Playfield
Two men have been charged in connection with the fatal shooting at Detroit's Skinner Playfield, according to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy's office in a news release. Brandon Lee Ware, 18, and William McKinley Wheeler, 19, were set to be arraigned Saturday, July 5. Both were charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of assault with intent to murder, two counts of discharge from a vehicle causing death, one count of discharge from a vehicle causing serious injury and five counts of felony firearm. Both suspects were arrested Wednesday, July 2. The triple shooting occurred June 27 at the park located at 12800 Kelly Road, next to Denby High School. Samir Josiah Grubbs, 4, was at the park with his mother and siblings when he was shot to death before he could make it up the playground slide's ladder. Dayvion Shelmonson-Bey, 18, was also killed. A 17-year-old was also shot and survived. The shooting allegedly occurred after an earlier altercation on a bus where a man snatched Ware's ski mask off his head, according to Worthy's office. Ware allegedly left the bus, went to a location on Riad Street and was a passenger in a truck driven by Wheeler. They allegedly drove to Duchess Street and Ware fired at individuals at the park that he thought were involved in the bus incident. "In this day and age of social media and electronics when less children are playing outside, it is refreshing when children want to go outside and enjoy one of their local parks. Because of the alleged criminal actions of the now charged defendants in this case, a precious four-year-old is dead and another wounded," Worthy said in the news release. "This is truly an American tragedy and hopefully it is not one that will have a chilling effect on children simply wanting to play outdoors." Detroit Free Press reporter Andrea May Sahouri contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2 suspects charged in shooting at Detroit's Skinner Playfield
