4-Year-Old Shot and Killed While Climbing Playground Ladder in Michigan

A story couldn’t have a more horrific ending than the one we’re about to tell you.

Last week, you probably saw the headlines about a child who was killed while playing at a park in Detroit. I did too, and yeah, it was awful. But it wasn’t until I saw the child’s mother speaking at a press conference that the whole thing really hit me. That’s when the heartbreak truly set in.

Fox 2 Detroit was at the press conference when 4-year-old Samir Grubbs’ mom, Jasmine, spoke about that tragic day. She shared how much her little boy loved to play and how excited he was to go to the park. He was so eager, he actually beat her out of the car and ran straight to the slide. Not even a minute later, he was shot and killed while climbing the ladder.

See Also: A 3-Day Police Chase? Yup, That Happened in Detroit

Think about that for a minute. Her child was shot and killed at a park. A place meant for families to feel safe. A place where kids are supposed to laugh and play, not lose their lives.

Jasmine said something that honestly brought me to tears. She said, "My baby didn't even get the chance to go down the slide. They got him while he was going up the ladder."

Not even your worst day can compare to something like that.

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The drive-by shooting also took the life of 18-year-old Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey. He died diving in front of a bullet, trying to protect kids at the playground.

That young man died a hero.

The parents of the victims spoke Monday at Skinner Park, just a few feet from where Samir and Daviyon lost their lives.