William Wheeler sentenced to 18-40 years for Detroit playground deaths

Judge Chandra Baker-Robinson weeps during sentencing for Detroit playground shootings

Third Circuit Court Judge Chandra Baker-Robinson broke into tears on Friday before sentencing 20-year-old William Wheeler for his role in the deaths of a 4-year-old boy and an 18-year-old young man at a Detroit playground. The sentencing, held at the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center, follows the deaths of Samir Grubbs and Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey, who were killed at Skinner Playfield on June 27, 2025, according to a report by the Detroit Free Press.

Wheeler will serve between 18 and 40 years in prison. He pleaded guilty in October through a sentence agreement to two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of possessing a gun in the commission of a felony. Baker-Robinson, a mother of two, told the court she could not imagine losing her own children in such a manner, particularly in a place where they should have been safe.

The tragic sequence of events at Skinner Playfield

The violence that claimed the lives of the two victims was sparked by a dispute involving Brandon Ware, 20. Officials stated that Ware fired the shots because his ski mask had been ripped off his face on a bus earlier that day, leading him to believe those at the park were involved. Wheeler was accused of driving the truck that allowed Ware to carry out the shooting.

William Wheeler sentenced to 18-40 years for Detroit playground deaths

Samir Grubbs was shot before he could even reach the top of a playground slide. His mother, Jasmine Grubbs, said during the sentencing that all she has left of her son is his Spider-Man backpack. She noted that her other children are currently in therapy and some have developed physical ailments since the loss.

The victims’ families expressed conflicting views on the justice served through the plea agreement:

Joseph Shelmonson-Bey: The father of Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey questioned Wheeler’s remorse and noted that the sentencing agreement came more than a year after the shooting. He had requested the maximum possible sentence, arguing Wheeler had ample time to reflect on his actions.
Jasmine Grubbs told the Free Press she concluded Wheeler was remorseful and expressed a cautious optimism about giving him another chance at life, noting that his future conduct is now up to him.

Wheeler addressed the court with an apology, stating that “sorry” was insufficient to justify what happened. He told his family he had “thrown his life away.”

Michigan court rulings change sentencing for young offenders

Where Wheeler’s family saw him graduate, Jasmine Grubbs will never see Samir cross a graduation stage. Similarly, Joseph Shelmonson-Bey will not see his son reach that same milestone.

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