Driver gets 16 to 40 years in Detroit playground shooting deaths

William Wheeler sat in a Detroit courtroom on Friday and accepted a prison term of 16 to 40 years for his role in a drive-by shooting that ended two lives at Skinner Park. The incident occurred more than 17 months ago, on June 27, 2025, when gunfire erupted near Duchess Street on the city’s east side.

Wheeler, 20, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. Prosecutors stated that the violence began on a bus, where an argument over a ski mask escalated into a fatal confrontation. According to the case details, 19-year-old Brandon Ware had his mask removed, prompting him to enter a truck driven by Wheeler.

The vehicle traveled to the park, where Ware allegedly opened fire on a group of people. A stray bullet struck 4-year-old Samir Grubbs, killing him. Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey, 18, was also killed in the exchange. A 17-year-old sustained injuries during the attack.

Jasmine Grubbs, Samir’s mother, spoke about the boy’s presence in the room. “Even if you were having a bad day. His smile would just, whatever you were mad about, it wasn’t even worth being mad about anymore because that smile just took it all away,” she said. Joseph Shelmonson-Bey, Daviyon’s father, noted that his son moved quickly to protect others when the shots began. “He reacted. He reacted to save somebody else. I don’t think he even thought about it. He just did it,” Shelmonson-Bey said.

Wheeler’s sentencing concludes his part of the case, but the legal process for Ware continues. The alleged gunman accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to 12 charges. These include two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, one count of assault with intent to murder, and six counts of felony firearm. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of discharging a firearm from a vehicle causing death and one count of discharging a firearm from a vehicle causing injury.

Ware is scheduled to appear for his sentencing on November 13. The two deaths at the playground have closed the case for the driver, leaving the final determination of the shooter’s punishment for next week.

The plea deals resolved the criminal liability for both men involved in the June shooting. No further appeals are currently pending for Wheeler, who will serve his minimum term of 16 years before becoming eligible for parole.