GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WKRC) – A man allegedly killed a teen and a mother after he was turned away from a soccer game.
According to WWMT, 18-year-old Rafael Martinez-Lopez was taken into custody after he allegedly shot and killed 15-year-old Jeremiah Griffin-Cuevas and 39-year-old Savanah Villarreal Rubio after being turned away from a soccer game last Tuesday.
A release issued by law enforcement states Officers responded to the Roosevelt Park area near Southwest Elementary School, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after receiving a report of a shooting.
After officers arrived at the scene, they reportedly found a woman and a teen suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds. Life-saving measures were performed, but the teen died at the scene, and the woman later died at the hospital.
When speaking to reporters with WWMT, Interim Chief Joe Trigg said the suspect approached a group of kids at the park and asked if he could play soccer with them, but was turned away. Authorities said that’s when Martinez-Lopez pulled a gun and shot Griffin-Cuevas, and then Villarreal as she tried to help.
A member of Villarreal’s family said she was supervising Griffin-Cuevas, her son’s friend, while he was playing soccer with the group of friends.
Martinez-Lopez fled the scene but was later located. He was arrested and is charged with the following:
Three additional weapons charges
“We have care and concern for all victims, but this kind of senseless violence just hits differently, even for long-serving officers like myself,” Chief Trigg told WWMT. “We are grieving alongside their loved ones and our community. I commend the men and women of the GRPD for their professionalism in rendering aid to the victims, securing the scene, apprehending the suspect without further violence, and the thorough investigation that led to these charges. Savanah and Jeremiah deserve justice.”
A close family friend of Griffin-Cuevas described him as big-hearted and caring, and said “deep down, I am really hurting. I am really going to miss him.”
The family Savannah Villarreal launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist the family with funeral costs.
“What was a normal day at the park for our family ended in the most unexpected tragedy. We lost not one but two lives in a senseless act of violence,” the GoFundMe caption reads in part. “We thank God for the time that we were given and the outpouring of love and prayers both families have received during this time from our community.”