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.
