An 18-year-old’s violent outburst ended in tragedy when he shot a 15-year-old and a courageous mother of eight after being refused entry into a casual soccer game, according to police reports.
Authorities allege that Rafael Martinez-Lopez brandished a firearm during an altercation over the game at an elementary school in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The incident resulted in the death of Jeremiah Griffin-Cuevas and Savanah Villarreal, 39, who intervened to protect the youths.
In a heart-wrenching statement to Fox 17, Mildred Griffin, the mother of the young victim, expressed her grief, saying, “She gave her life to save my son.”
Following the shocking event, Martinez-Lopez was apprehended at his residence after fleeing the scene, which was witnessed by at least eight traumatized children, according to police.
Grand Rapids Interim Police Chief Joe Trigg explained to WOOD-TV, “A group of kids was playing at the park, and the suspect approached, asking to join the soccer game. He was not allowed to participate, which led to a verbal confrontation.”
Trigg detailed the escalation, saying the suspect, upset at being excluded, resorted to violence by drawing a gun, shooting both the teenage boy and Villarreal, who was overseeing the game.
Griffin-Cuevas died at the scene Tuesday and Villarreal later succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital. No other injuries reported but as many as eight other kids witnessed the killings, police said.
Villarreal had been supervising the game “because there’s been several incidents here where they have been verbally attacked and things,” her sister, Angelita Tierrablanca, told WWMT. “She was so selfless, she loved children.”
Villarreal was also like family to the boy murdered alongside her, his mom said.
“He considered Savanah his auntie,” Mildred Griffin told Fox 17. “She’s been in his life his whole life. She was his babysitter.”
Family and friends said Villarreal was well-known in the community for her work with a local nonprofit distributing groceries and household items to families in need.
“She guarded Jeremiah in her last moment. She played her role exactly as she was supposed to as a mother and a guardian,” a friend, Alana Crooks, told Wood-TV.
“Savanah and Jeremiah should not be dead right now. They shouldn’t.”
Classes were canceled at Southwest Elementary School until Friday as police investigated the scene.
Martinez-Lopez is facing two counts of open murder, two felony firearm charges, and three additional weapons charges.
