Court records say the gun did not fire when the suspect pointed it at the 9-year-old.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A 9-year-old boy who police say had a gun pointed at him after two people were fatally shot outside a Grand Rapids school had already witnessed another murder in 2024, his family said.
The child’s account has added another layer of grief to a case that has shaken families in the city’s Roosevelt Park neighborhood. Police say 15-year-old Jeremiah Griffin-Cuevas and 38-year-old Savanah Rubio, also known as Savanah Villarreal, were shot Tuesday, May 5, after a dispute over a soccer game outside Southwest Elementary School. Prosecutors have charged 18-year-old Rafael Martinez-Lopez with murder and weapons offenses.
Police were called to Southwest Elementary School shortly after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday after reports that two people had been shot. Officers found Jeremiah and Rubio with gunshot wounds. Jeremiah died at the scene, and Rubio later died during emergency surgery at a hospital. Investigators said several children had been playing soccer when the dispute began. Mildred Griffin, Jeremiah’s mother, said her son was active in church and youth group. “Somebody stole from me, and that’s something I can’t get back,” Griffin said.
Court records say the conflict began after Martinez-Lopez’s younger brother and another child were turned away from a soccer game. The brother left and returned with Martinez-Lopez, who accused the group of mistreating the younger children and demanded a fight, according to the records. Police said Jeremiah agreed to fight, but before any fight began, Martinez-Lopez pulled a black handgun with an extended magazine and opened fire. Investigators said Rubio was shot after she moved to help Jeremiah. Griffin said Rubio was like family to her son. “She gave her life to save my son,” Griffin said.
Investigators said nine .40 caliber shell casings were found at the scene. Court records say police also obtained cellphone video and school surveillance footage that showed the shooting. After shooting Jeremiah and Rubio, Martinez-Lopez turned the gun toward the 9-year-old boy and pulled the trigger, but the gun did not fire, according to what the child told a witness. The boy’s grandfather later said the child had seen another murder in Grand Rapids in 2024. The family has not publicly identified that earlier case in the available accounts.
Police said the 9-year-old was one of several children who witnessed the shooting outside the school. Grand Rapids Interim Police Chief Joe Trigg called the scene horrific and said at least seven or eight children saw what happened. The violence led to temporary school closures as families, students and staff dealt with the deaths. A vigil drew about 100 people Wednesday, May 6, to remember Jeremiah and Rubio, who relatives described as a mother figure and protector of children in the neighborhood.
A neighborhood witness reviewed video from the shooting and identified Martinez-Lopez, then gave police his address, according to court records. Officers arrested him after he fled the scene. Investigators said he had changed clothes, but was wearing the same shoes seen in the video. A search warrant at his home found a partially loaded .40 caliber Glock handgun with an extended magazine, along with a sweatshirt and pants that matched clothing worn by the shooter in the footage, court records say.
Martinez-Lopez declined to answer police questions without an attorney present. His younger brother told investigators he had been scared of some children at the playground and believed they might have a gun, though he said he never saw one. Police said video and witness statements showed Martinez-Lopez armed himself before going to the playground. His attorney, Craig Jenison, said during a brief court appearance that Martinez-Lopez had no prior criminal record.
Martinez-Lopez faces two counts of open murder, two felony firearm counts, carrying a weapon with unlawful intent, carrying a concealed weapon and a weapons-free school zone violation. A judge denied bond, leaving him in jail. His next court step is a probable cause conference scheduled for May 19. Prosecutors have not said whether more charges could be added in connection with the gun allegedly pointed at the 9-year-old.
The case remains under review by Grand Rapids police and Kent County prosecutors. Families are mourning Jeremiah and Rubio while investigators continue to collect video, witness statements and firearm evidence ahead of the May 19 hearing.
Author note: Last updated May 10, 2026.