Sitting at home was not an option on April 23 — not on what would have been Samir Grubbs’ 5th birthday.
“My 7-year-old, she said ‘honey boo-boo, we’re not going to be sitting here crying. We finna go to the park,'” Jasmine Grubbs recalled her daughter telling her.
Wise words, she thought. Samir wouldn’t stay inside either.
It was only natural that instead they’d throw a birthday party for Samir at Skinner Playfield, where just last summer her son was gunned down going up the playground’s slide and killed. The alleged motive: one of the teenage suspects was mad his ski mask was ripped off his face on a bus earlier that day.
An 18-year-old was also killed and a 17-year-old injured. Two suspects are set to stand trial June 1.
A proper birthday was had indeed: cake, cupcakes, ice cream, candy, pizza, balloons, even Spider-Man themed snack bags and Capri Sun juices with words “Samir’s Heavenly Birthday.”
Family and friends gathered, even members of Grubbs’ church, like Stephanie Gunn — “That was my baby. He used to ask me for candy every Sunday” — and community violence intervention (CVI) leaders serving the east side like Quincy Smith of Team Pursuit and Phillip Sample of 4820Live.
The energy there wasn’t somber, despite the fact that they were gathered where Samir’s life ended. Grubbs was all smiles. The park was filled with music and laughter and hugs. The sun was out and so were the children playing.
Understandably, some anger was expressed – “I’m the one that’s mad at the world,” said Nicole Owens, or “Auntie Coco” to some. “(Samir) was 4. He didn’t get a chance. So angry? Yes.”
But as Grubbs put it, “it’s bigger than that. It’s better than that. This is still a safe space.”
It wasn’t just that they were keeping Samir’s memory alive at the birthday party, along with his “big Taurus energy,” but his legacy, too, Grubbs said.
“I just want to give back to all the kids, because Samir was so loving, caring and joyful. And he loved to play in the park,” she said. “So many people here didn’t know Samir. They didn’t get to meet him. And the fact that they showed up for him just makes me happy.”
Samir’s killing on June 27, 2025, kicked off a particularly bloody July for Detroit’s youths and continued throughout the summer.
From June 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2025, the total number of youth 17 and under shot and killed last summer was eight, according to data provided by Detroit police. The total number of youth shot and injured was 24, and the total number of youth charged with weapons was 92.
City officials have already detailed its plan to curb further bloodshed this summer, which is historically the more violent months of the year.
The plan calls for neighborhood teams to tackle crime street by street, crack down on establishments with late-night activity, and manage crowds and curfews at block parties. It also aims to defuse tensions before they boil over in residential areas – and to bring young people to the table to shape the spaces and events available to them.
Grubbs wants her son to be part of the solution. So invited to the party was any kid at the park that day, including the teenage boys Smith was coaching for their CVI summer flag-football program. At the end of their practice, right before they sang happy birthday to Samir, Smith prepped them.
“Little Samir Grubbs. Four-years-old. Lost his life. Right here,” Smith said in their huddle. “All he was doing was what all kids want to do — play at the park.”
Today they celebrate Samir, Smith said. Tomorrow, too. And the next. Because what he and others are trying to do is petition to the city to get Skinner Playfield’s name changed to Samir’s, so no one forgets who he was, what happened to him, and the legacy he’s created.
But before that, he reminded them, “make sure you give his mother a big hug and support her.”
Then under the park’s pavilion, they sang for Samir. First, “Happy birthday.” Followed by:
“Are you 1! Are you 2! Are you 3! Are you 4! Are you 5!”
Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Family celebrates Samir Grubbs’ birthday at park where he was killed
Reporting by Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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