DETROIT, MI — A devastating shooting on Detroit’s east side has left a city heartbroken after a 4-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man were killed in a triple shooting near Skinner Park Friday evening. The senseless violence unfolded around 6:21 p.m. on June 27, near Duchess Street and Britain Avenue, close to Denby High School, in a neighborhood now reeling in grief.
According to Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison, officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire in the area. When authorities arrived, they discovered two gunshot victims at the scene, who were quickly transported by medics. A third victim, the 18-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene after sustaining a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.
The most gut-wrenching detail came soon after: a 4-year-old boy, an innocent child caught in the crossfire, had been fatally shot in the back. His life, just beginning, was tragically stolen in a moment of violence that has shaken residents and city leaders alike.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy,” Chief Bettison said in a press briefing. “We lost a child today—someone with an entire life ahead of him. Our detectives are working urgently to find out who did this and why.”
Police confirmed that several 9mm shell casings were recovered from the roadway, and eight shots were reportedly fired at the intersection near the park. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims but confirmed that homicide detectives are actively canvassing the area, interviewing residents, and reviewing footage from doorbell cameras and surveillance systems in hopes of identifying suspects and uncovering what led to the violence.
The third victim’s condition has not been released, and it is unclear whether they were a bystander or involved in the altercation.
Chief Bettison urged the public to come forward with any information, no matter how small, that could assist in the investigation. “Somebody knows something,” he said. “We need the community’s help to bring justice to these families. Please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP or reach out to our homicide division directly.”
As families mourn and a neighborhood grapples with another painful loss, the shooting stands as a stark reminder of the growing toll of gun violence in cities across the nation. Community leaders are calling for unity, support for grieving families, and renewed commitment to protect the lives of Detroit’s youth.
For now, flowers and candles are beginning to appear near Skinner Park—quiet symbols of heartbreak and remembrance for a little boy whose life ended far too soon. The city weeps, but it also waits—for answers, for justice, and for an end to this tragic cycle of loss.
