Detroit, Michigan Playground Shooting Driver Sentenced to at Least 18 Years in Prison

A Detroit judge broke into tears on Friday before sentencing William Wheeler, 20, to prison for his role in the Skinner Playfield shooting that killed a 4 year old boy and an 18 year old man on the city's east side last year.

Third Circuit Court Judge Chandra Baker-Robinson followed the sentence agreement in Wheeler's plea deal at the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center on Friday, Nov. 6. Wheeler pleaded guilty in October to two counts of second degree murder and two counts of felony firearm, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, and other charges, including first degree murder and assault with intent to murder, were dismissed. FOX 2 Detroit reported the murder sentence as 16 to 40 years, with two years added for the firearm counts. The Detroit Free Press put the combined term at 18 to 40 years and noted Wheeler will be in prison until he is nearly 40, at least.

A summer evening at the playground

The shooting happened on June 27, 2025, at Skinner Playfield, near Denby High School. Samir Grubbs did not make it up the playground slide's ladder before he was shot. Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey was at the park too and was fatally shot. A 17 year old was also wounded and survived.

Officials say Brandon Ware, 20, of Detroit, fired the shots, and Wheeler drove the truck. Prosecutors say Ware believed he was shooting toward people involved in an incident earlier that day, when his ski mask was ripped off his face on a bus.

Families speak, and the driver apologizes

Jasmine Grubbs, the mother of Samir Grubbs, told the court all she has left is his Spider-Man backpack, and that her other children are in therapy. "My son just wanted to go to a park," she said. She told the court she will never see Samir cross a graduation stage.

Joseph Shelmonson-Bey, the father of Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey, said he also lost the chance to see his son graduate, and he questioned Wheeler's remorse. "He had time to think about his actions before he went out with his friend," he said. Both families asked the judge to give Wheeler as much time as possible.

Baker-Robinson, a mother of two, wiped her eyes with tissues during the hearing. She urged Wheeler to change in prison and to mentor young people when he gets out. "There's no amount of time that you can get that will bring back their children," she said. Wheeler apologized, told his family he loved them and said he had thrown his life away. He said "sorry" was not enough for the families of those killed.

After the hearing, Jasmine Grubbs told the Free Press she had concluded Wheeler was remorseful. "We are at least optimistic at giving him another chance at life," she said. "Now, what he does with that is ultimately up to him."

The accused shooter is sentenced next week

Ware pleaded guilty in October to two counts of first degree murder, assault with intent to murder, two counts of discharge from a vehicle causing death, discharge from a vehicle causing serious injury and multiple felony firearm counts. He is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 13. First degree murder in Michigan normally carries automatic life with no parole, but the state Supreme Court has ruled that such sentences are unconstitutional for people aged 20 and younger, whose life sentences must be considered individually.