Two people have been formally charged in connection with the tragic shooting at a Detroit park that left a 4-year-old child and an 18-year-old dead, and another teen injured.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced charges against Brandon Lee Ware, 18, and William McKinley Wheeler, 19, both of Detroit, in the June 27th double homicide at Skinner Playfield, located near Denby High School.
Police say the deadly shooting stemmed from a previous altercation on a city bus earlier in the day, where someone reportedly pulled a ski mask off Ware’s head. Ware then left the bus, went to a home on Riad Street, and later returned as a passenger in a pickup truck driven by Wheeler.
The two allegedly drove to the park on Dutchess Street, where Ware opened fire from the truck, targeting people he believed were involved in the earlier incident. Prosecutors say he fatally shot 18-year-old Davlyon Shalmonson-Bey, who was unarmed, and 4-year-old Samir Josiah Grubbs, who was at the park with his family. A GoFundMe has been started for the little boy: https://gofund.me/c5ad651a
A 17-year-old boy was also shot in the leg but survived. Ware and Wheeler fled the scene in the truck.
Following an investigation by Detroit Police, both suspects were arrested on July 2, 2025, and now face a long list of felony charges:
• Two counts of First-Degree Murder (Life without parole)
• One count of Assault with Intent to Murder
