DETROIT – A community is demanding action after the shooting death of a 4-year-old boy and an 18-year-old at Skinner Park on Detroit’s east side.
Samir Grubbs and Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey lost their lives when someone opened fire.
It’s sparked an outcry from locals who are demanding an end to gun violence, especially from the people who helped design the park.
Sandra Turner-Handy was one of the individuals who designed Skinner Park in 2013 with the assistance of Denby High School students. The only goal in mind was keeping the children safe.
“The park was actually designed by our high school students. What they told us was don’t put the basketball court near the street because people are gonna come by and talk stuff, and things may escalate. So we put it in the middle of the park. So putting the children’s playscape by the only open street was the safe thing to do because nobody’s gonna harm a child,” said Turner-Handy.
That’s what they thought. So, you can imagine the trauma and pain of learning that a four and an 18-year-old were shot and killed in a place where kids wouldn’t have to worry about stray bullets.
“I cried because I knew that the whole idea of this park was to create a safe space for our children and our families in this community,” Turner-Handy said.
The pain is still fresh for many parents and grandparents in the area, including Michelle Goss.
“I do have six grandchildren, and my youngest is two. From 10 to two and I think about where else should he have been besides a park. You would never dream of a kid coming to a park and not going home,” said Goss.
Multiple Groups are now working - going the extra mile in hopes that they’ll never have to experience lol losing another child because of violence.
“Anybody that’s working to reduce crime in our community, we’re working with them. Knocking on doors, and we’re talking to
residents about summer programs for our kids. Everybody’s at the table, and we’re gonna figure it out. Cause we can’t keep burying babies," Turner-Handy said.
And still, at this point, no suspects are in custody.
Learn more: Protect the Zone