DETROIT – Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison expressed confidence that those responsible for the shooting at Skinner Park, which killed 4-year-old Samir Grubbs and 18-year-old Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey, will be held accountable.
The shooting occurred on Friday (June 27) on Detroit’s east side.
Police confirmed arrests were made on the city’s west side, on Ohio Street.
A 17-year-old was also injured in the shooting. Two people were initially taken into custody on the day of the shooting but were later released.
Bettison said the right suspects are now behind bars.
He also stated that community tips were helpful in this case.
Bettison credited witness tips and community cooperation for helping to quickly identify the suspects.
Detectives gathered enough evidence over several days to make the arrests.
“I haven’t had a good sleep since. And I can tell you that my homicide detectives—the men and women of the Detroit Police Department—they haven’t slept, either,” Bettison said.
At his bi-weekly “Walk a Mile” event, Bettison celebrated the arrests.
“With the excellent work that they have done, they were able to make two arrests today,” Bettison said to cheers.
Bettison believes two teens carried out the drive-by shooting following an argument.
He suspects one of the teen victims may have been the intended target.
“I will not call them persons of interest. I will call them suspects. I’m confident that we have the right individuals,” Bettison said.
The arrests bring some closure to the victims’ families.
Reverend W.J. Rideout, pastor at All God’s People Church, where Grubbs’ family are members is helping with funeral arrangements.
“She’s overwhelmed that they caught the suspects and that, you know, charges are going to be brought to them for what they did to her son,” Rideout said.
The triple shooting marked the start of a violent week in Detroit, with six children and teens injured or killed in shootings since Saturday.
Bettison called on the community to take action.
“It’s been altercations that have led to conflict, and the common denominator is—these teens shouldn’t have guns. So when it comes to parental responsibility—check your teen’s rooms,” Bettison said. “Everyone needs to have a collaborative effort to police their communities, to not just depend on police, not just depend on other groups or other people, but everyone comes out together as a whole, collaborative group.
Bettison praised the relentless work of homicide detectives who worked around the clock to track down the suspects.
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