An 18-year-old man was taken into custody Tuesday evening after allegedly opening fire outside Southwest Elementary School, killing a teenage boy and a woman who had stepped in to defend him. The police say the shooting began when the suspect was refused entry into a pickup soccer game.
According to a press release, officers with the Grand Rapids Police Department responded to the area of Oakland Avenue SW and Rumsey Street SW at around 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday. They arrived to find both victims suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds on the elementary school's property. Jeremiah died at the scene. Villarreal was transported to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Interim Police Chief Joe Trigg described the events leading up to the shooting when speaking to local media. A group of children had been playing soccer at the park when the suspect approached and asked to join the game, Trigg told WOOD-TV. When the group turned him away, there was a verbal confrontation—and the suspect pulled out a gun.
"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."
The suspect fled the scene but was later found at a nearby home and arrested without further incident. No other individuals were physically injured, though Trigg said at least seven or eight juveniles witnessed the shooting.
Jeremiah's mother, Mildred Griffin, spoke at a community vigil held Wednesday evening at Southwest Elementary—near the very spot where her son was killed—her words raw with grief.
"She gave her life to save my son. He considered Savanah his auntie. She's been in his life his whole life. She was his babysitter. And ... I'm sorry," Griffin said, according to Fox 17.
Dave Geroux, senior pastor at Berean Baptist Church, remembered Jeremiah as a young man whose instinct was always to serve others rather than seek attention. "He was a young man who was mature beyond his years," Geroux told Fox 17. He added that the church would cover the cost of Jeremiah's funeral services.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Grand Rapids Police Department's Major Case Team at 616-456-3380, or submit an anonymous tip through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or via the Silent Observer website or app.