An 18-year-old Michigan man will stand trial after prosecutors say he opened fire during an argument over a neighborhood pickup soccer game, killing a 15-year-old boy and a mother of seven who tried to calm the situation.
Rafael Martinez-Lopez, 18, was ordered to stand trial on two counts of open murder and several firearms-related charges following a preliminary hearing held Monday. The charges stem from the May 5 shooting deaths of 15-year-old Jeremiah Cuevas-Griffin and 38-year-old Savanah Villarreal outside Southwest Elementary School in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
During the hearing, witnesses—including Villarreal’s teenage son, another teenage girl, and Martinez-Lopez’s younger brother—described the moments leading up to the deadly gunfire.
Dispute Began Over a Pickup Soccer Game
According to prosecutors, the confrontation started when Martinez-Lopez’s younger brother was turned away from joining a pickup soccer game involving local children and teenagers.
Court testimony indicated that Villarreal’s teenage son and his sister had approached Martinez-Lopez’s younger brother and another boy to ask if they could join the game.
The boys allegedly declined, prompting the teenagers to leave briefly to retrieve their own soccer ball before returning to the park.
By the time they came back, prosecutors say Martinez-Lopez had arrived and confronted the group.
“We Just Wanted to Play Soccer”
Villarreal’s teenage son testified that Martinez-Lopez questioned whether the group intended to fight his younger brother.
The teenager told the court that they tried to calm the situation by explaining there was no conflict.
According to his testimony, they told Martinez-Lopez:
“We told him we just wanted to play soccer.”
The witness said Martinez-Lopez then walked a few steps away before suddenly pulling a handgun from his waistband.
Teen Thought Only Friend Had Been Shot
The teenager testified that as soon as he saw the gun, he ran home to get his father.
He initially believed only his friend, Jeremiah Cuevas-Griffin, had been shot.
He told the court that after seeing Jeremiah collapse, he assumed the boy had died and immediately sought help.
It was only after returning to the school with his father that he realized his own mother had also been shot during the attack.
Mother Fatally Shot After Stepping In
According to prosecutors, Savanah Villarreal attempted to intervene during the confrontation before she was shot.
Authorities have previously alleged that she tried to defend the teenagers and de-escalate the situation shortly before the gunfire erupted.
She was the mother of seven children.
Jeremiah Cuevas-Griffin, 15, was also killed during the shooting.
Teenage Witness Recorded Part of Shooting
Another witness, a 14-year-old girl, testified that she recorded part of the incident on her cellphone.
Fighting back tears while testifying, she described seeing Martinez-Lopez pull out a handgun.
She told the court that she immediately ducked behind a nearby vehicle after noticing the weapon.
Moments later, she saw Jeremiah collapse to the ground.
She then witnessed Villarreal fall after being struck by gunfire.
Cellphone Video Played in Court
During Monday’s hearing, prosecutors presented a 19-second cellphone video that allegedly captured Martinez-Lopez removing a handgun from his waistband before opening fire.
According to courtroom reports, the video prompted emotional reactions from family members seated in the gallery.
Observers reported that Martinez-Lopez kept his head down during much of the proceedings.
Younger Brother Also Testified
Martinez-Lopez’s younger brother also appeared as a witness.
He testified that he became frightened during the earlier confrontation because he believed one of the other youths briefly lifted a shirt, making it appear as though they might have been carrying a weapon.
However, he acknowledged that he did not clearly see any firearm.
The boy testified that he ran home and asked his older brother for help.
After the shooting, he said they returned home, locked the doors, and watched movies while Martinez-Lopez instructed him not to talk about what had happened.
Prosecutors Say Defendant Appeared to Be Looking for a Fight
Another teenager who witnessed the confrontation testified that Martinez-Lopez appeared to be actively seeking a confrontation before the shooting began.
Prosecutors argued that the evidence presented during the preliminary hearing demonstrated sufficient grounds for the case to proceed to trial.
Judge Orders Case to Trial
Following the hearing, Judge Kellen Dotson ruled that prosecutors had presented enough evidence to move the case to Kent County Circuit Court.
Martinez-Lopez remains charged with:
- Two counts of open murder
- Carrying a weapon with unlawful intent
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Possessing a firearm in a weapon-free school zone
- Two counts of felony firearm
According to local reports, plea discussions are ongoing, although prosecutors told the court that no formal plea offer has been extended to the defense.
A future court date has not yet been announced.
The charges against Martinez-Lopez are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. The case will now proceed toward trial in Kent County Circuit Court.
