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Samir Grubbs, 4. (Family photo)
On a warm Friday evening at a park on Detroit's east side, gunshots rang out, killing a four-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man, and wounding a 17-year-old male.
The tragic incident occurred around 6:20 p.m. at Skinner Field near Denby High School, said Police Chief Todd Bettison at a press conference.
Bettison said police responded within two minutes. They now have two people of interest in custody.
He added that it was too early in the investigation to speculate on the details of the shooting.
"At this particular point in time, it's an active crime scene investigation. We have our homicide detectives here, and they’re canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses, video assets, Ring doorbell footage, etcetera."
"Anytime you have a four-year-old — a young person that age — fatally wounded, it’s devastating. All life is valuable, but this one right here particularly gets to me," Bettison said.
Samir Grubbs, 4, and his mother Jasmine Shannon (Family photo)
Rev. W.J. Rideout III of the All God's People Church in Roseville, said the boy, Samir Grubbs, who was killed was a member of his church. He was the youngest of six kids.
"In all my 32 years of pastoring this is the third baby I have to eulogize," he said in a statement to Deadline Detroit. "The violence has to stop. Innocent children are falling due to senseless killing and wrongful use of fire arms. Children are shot down while playing at neighborhood Parks or on their home porches that are supposed to be a safety zone for Children!
"I'm advocating to the city council and the newly elected mayor that we put cameras in every local city park and school to cut down on the killing of our Children!!!"
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP or the Detroit Police Homicide Section at (313) 596-2200.
