Savanah Villarreal and Jeremiah Cuevas-Griffin were killed after police say a soccer dispute turned violent.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Families and neighbors gathered Wednesday after a woman and a teenage boy were fatally shot outside Southwest Elementary School in Grand Rapids.
The victims were identified as 39-year-old Savanah Villarreal and 15-year-old Jeremiah Cuevas-Griffin. Police said an 18-year-old man opened fire Tuesday evening after he was not allowed to join a soccer game near the school playground. The suspect was arrested a short time later.
Grand Rapids police said officers were called at about 6:40 p.m. to the area of Oakland Avenue SW and Rumsey Street SW. Interim Police Chief Joe Trigg said the suspect approached a group of children playing soccer and asked to play. After he was turned away, Trigg said, the exchange became an argument and the suspect shot Jeremiah. Villarreal then tried to intervene and was shot.
Police said at least seven or eight young people saw the shooting. Investigators found nine shell casings and later discovered a bullet in a nearby home. Authorities have not said whether the gun was recovered. The suspect’s name was not released Wednesday, and Kent County prosecutors had not yet received charges from police.
Grand Rapids Public Schools said the shooting was not connected to a school event and happened well after dismissal. Southwest Elementary School and Southwest Middle High School closed Wednesday so the neighborhood could respond to the deaths. Southwest Elementary was scheduled to remain closed Thursday as the investigation continued.
At the memorial, candles, flowers and balloons marked the place where the two were killed. Mildred Griffin, Jeremiah’s mother, said Villarreal had been part of her son’s life for years. “She gave her life to save my son,” Griffin said during the vigil. “He considered Savanah his auntie.”
Neighbors said the shooting shook a place where children often gather. Grand Rapids resident Donny Irving said the loss was felt beyond the families of the victims. Victoria Tierrablanca said Villarreal had been watching the children because of past incidents in the area and stepped forward when Jeremiah was attacked.
Police continued gathering evidence Thursday, May 7, before sending the case to the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office for a charging decision.
Author note: Last updated May 7, 2026.