DETROIT (WWJ) Two young Detroit men were charged with First Degree Murder and other felonies for a triple shooting at a playground on the city's east side that killed a four-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man.
Brandon Lee Ware, 18, and William McKinley Wheeler, 19, were charged in connection to the deaths of Samir Josiah Grubbs, 4, and Davlyon Shalmonson-Bey, 18. The charges against Wheeler and Ware are: 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.
Prosecutors said Detroit officers were dispatched to the area of Duchess and Morang for a shooting at Skinner Playfield near Denby High School on Friday, June 27 around 6:21 p.m. The shooting allegedly stemmed from an altercation on a bus earlier that led to a man snatching Ware's ski cap off his head. Ware exited the bus, went to a location on Riad and boarded a truck driven by Wheeler.
The two drove to Duchess Street, where Ware opened fire on people he thought were involved in the bus incident, prosecutors said.
Grubbs was struck by the gunfire while playing at the park with his four siblings, his mother and her friend. Shalmonson-Bey was also shot.
Grubbs and Shalmonson-Bey died at a local hospital.
“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," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said. "Because of the alleged criminal actions of the now charged defendants in this case, a precious four-year-old is dead."
A 17-year-old was shot in the leg. He was taken to the hospital and released. An investigation by Detroit Police led to the arrests of Wheeler and Ware on Wednesday, July 2.
A conviction of First Degree Murder carries a mandatory sentence of Life Without Parole.
Worthy said: “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."