Two Men Charged in Detroit Park Homicides
Published on July 05, 2025
Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Brandon Lee Ware,18, and William McKinley Wheeler,19, in connection with the homicides of a four-year-old boy and an 18-year-old male, all of Detroit.
On June 27, 2025, at 6:21 p.m., Detroit officers were dispatched to Dutchess Street and Morang, for a shooting that occurred at Skinner Playfield, a park near Denby Hich School in Detroit. It is alleged that the shooting was over an earlier altercation on a bus that resulted in a male snatching Ware’s ski mask off of his head. Ware left the bus went to a location on Riad Street and was a passenger in a truck driven by Wheeler. It is alleged that they drove to Dutchess Street, where Ware fired at individuals in the park that he thought were involved with the bus. Incident. He shot and killed 18-year-old Davlyon Shalmonson-Bey who was unarmed. He also shot and killed four-year-old Samir Josiah Grubbs, who was at the park with his mother, her friend, and his four siblings. Another 17-year-old unarmed man was non-fatally wounded in the leg. Ware and Wheeler fled the scene in the truck. The two homicide victims were pronounced deceased at a local hospital. The surviving male was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
After an extensive investigation by the Detroit Police Department the defendants were identified and arrested on July 2, 2025.
Brandon Lee Ware and William McKinley Wheeler are each charged with two counts of First Degree Murder (Life without parole), one count of Assault with Intent to Murder (Life or a term of years),two counts of Discharge from a Vehicle Causing Death (Life or a term of years), one count of Discharge from a Vehicle Causing Serious Injury (15 years), and five counts of Felony Firearm (2 years consecutive).
“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. Because of the alleged criminal actions of the now charged defendants in this case, a precious four-year-old is dead and another wounded.
“This is truly an America tragedy and hopefully it is not one that will have a chilling effect on children simply wanting to play outdoors,” said Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
The defendants were arraigned in 36th District Court and remanded to the Wayne County Jail. The Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for July 14, 2025, before Judge Shawn Jacque. Please request a photograph of the defendants from the Detroit Police Department.
*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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