Inset, left to right: Savanah Villarreal (WOOD) and Jeremiah Cuevas-Griffin (WXMI). Background: The playground in Michigan where Villarreal and Cuevas-Griffin were killed (WWMT).
A tragic incident unfolded in Michigan this week when an 18-year-old allegedly shot and killed a 14-year-old boy and a 39-year-old mother of eight. The violent episode took place at a local elementary school, reportedly after the suspect was refused entry into a pickup soccer game.
The young man’s identity has not been disclosed, but he was apprehended shortly after the shootings at a nearby location. While formal charges are pending, he remains in custody on suspicion of murder, according to local authorities.
The Grand Rapids Police Department shared in a news release that officers received reports of gunfire around 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday, prompting them to rush to the area near Oakland Ave SW and Rumsey Street SW.
At the scene, first responders discovered the two victims at Southwest Elementary School. The teenager was pronounced dead immediately, while the woman was transported to a nearby hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
The shooting occurred close to a playground where a group of children and older juveniles had gathered for a game, as reported by local NBC affiliate WOOD. Interim Police Chief Joe Trigg explained that the suspect had approached the group, seeking to join their soccer match. Upon being declined, a verbal confrontation reportedly led to the tragic escalation.
Interim Police Chief Joe Trigg told the station that the 18-year-old suspect approached the group and asked to participate in their soccer game. When the children declined, a verbal altercation ensued.
“A bunch of kids were playing at the park here, and the suspect approached, asked to engage in a game of soccer. For whatever reason, he was turned away,” Trigg said. “Did not like the fact that he was turned away so a verbal altercation started, which led to the suspect pulling out a firearm and shooting that juvenile. The adult female had came to the aid, verbally, of the juvenile victim so then she was targeted.”
Family members who spoke to Kalamazoo, Michigan, CBS affiliate WWMT identified the female victim as Savanah Villarreal, a mother of eight who they said was supervising the group of kids playing soccer due to previous incidents involving verbal harassment while playing on the field.
When the suspect allegedly opened fire on the 14-year-old, Villarreal intervened to defend the teen.
“She was so selfless, she loved children,” Angelita Tierrablanca, Villarreal’s sister, told the station.
The family also explained that the victim was friends with one of Villarreal’s sons.
The interim police chief described the shooting as “horrific” for the seven or eight juveniles who witnessed their friend being gunned down.
Local Fox affiliate WXMI identified the teenage victim as Jeremiah Cuevas-Griffin.
As a result of the violence, Grand Rapids Public Schools closed both Southwest Elementary and Southwest Middle High School to allow students and staff time to process the event.
“You should be able to go to the park and play and this is one of those senseless things that I have seen too many times,” resident Donny Irving told WWMT.
The investigation remains active as detectives work to finalize the case to present to prosecutors.
