DETROIT – Detroit faith leaders and community activists came together Friday in an urgent call for peace following a week of youth gun violence that claimed multiple lives, including a 4-year-old child.
The gathering at Church of the Messiah brought together religious leaders, community members, and Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison, all demanding an immediate end to the recent shootings, all involving teens.
“That’s what we’re here to do is launch a message campaign from our community leaders to our community,” said pastor Ovella Davis. “We’re calling for a ceasefire, we’re calling to stop the smoke in Detroit and Wayne County.”
The call for action follows two shootings Thursday night, including an incident where police fatally shot a teen who allegedly fired at officers, shooting one in the hand, and another where a teenager was wounded in a drive-by shooting at a gas station.
These incidents came just days after a triple shooting at Skinner Playfield that killed 4-year-old Samir Grubbs and 18-year-old Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey. According to family members, Shelmonson-Bey died protecting another child during the incident.
Detroit police announced two arrests in the case this week.
On Sunday, a 15-year-old was killed and a 13-year-old was grazed in a shooting at a home on Detroit’s west side.
On Tuesday, a 17-year-old was shot in the head outside Martin Luther King Apartments.
Police are still working to identify the shooters in both cases.
“We represent the voices of people who were going to school, going to work, going to the park, doing what they were supposed to do, but they were gunned down,” said pastor Barry Randolph. “We are now their voice.”
Chief Bettison emphasized the critical role of parental involvement in preventing youth violence.
“Search your kid’s room. It’s your house,” he urged parents. “Go through their phone, search their social media page, get involved.”
“Go sit on your porch and go to your schools,” Davis said. “It’s not one person, it’s all of us calling. We have to do this. We have to stop.”
Anyone with information on the unsolved shootings can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP.