News Summary
In a recent decision, Grand Rapids city officials have rejected a request to rename Delaware Street in honor of Amillier Penn, a teenager killed by gun violence. The proposal was made by his father, Corey Penn, following a previous rejection to rename another street. Although over 2,000 signatures were collected in support of the renaming, city officials cited policies regarding street naming and suggested alternative methods to honor victims. This situation highlights ongoing concerns about community responses to gun violence and the need for effective memorialization.
Grand Rapids city officials have officially rejected a request for the second time to rename Delaware Street in honor of Amillier Penn, a 15-year-old who was tragically shot and killed last summer while playing football with friends. The request was submitted by Corey Penn, Amillier’s father, who hoped to see the street renamed “Amillier Penn Way.” This decision follows an earlier request made in July 2024, which sought to rename Umatilla Street after the teen, but was turned down by the Grand Rapids City Commission.
Amillier Penn was killed on June 2, 2024, leading to widespread grief and concern in the community regarding gun violence. Following the initial rejection, Corey Penn returned with a new proposal on September 19 to rename Delaware Street, where his family resides, arguing that there is increasing support for the movement. His renewed efforts garnered over 2,000 online petitions and 400 physical signatures from supporters advocating for the change.
Support for the renaming was expressed by Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom during discussions with Corey Penn. However, the city manager’s office stated that resubmitting the request for another City Commission vote would likely result in a similar outcome to the previous request. They cited the city’s street renaming policy, which typically honors individuals who contributed to the community during their lifetime, as a significant reasoning for the denial.
The city’s development committee took up the issue on October 7 and reiterated the conclusion of the city manager’s office. Commissioner Milinda Ysasi highlighted the need for an enduring method to honor victims of gun violence, suggesting the establishment of June as gun violence awareness month. This suggestion comes in light of another tragic incident, where a teenager named Niles Murray was fatally shot during a memorial event for Amillier Penn’s birthday.
Corey Penn expressed disappointment with the city’s decision but maintained a commitment to appeal the ruling and advocate for a way to honor his son. He believes that raising awareness about gun violence is crucial and feels that renaming a street would contribute to that goal. City officials have expressed a desire for families to have avenues for public grieving and remembrance of their loved ones lost to violence.
During discussions about finding alternatives to street renaming, the concept of creating a physical memorial space for families affected by gun violence emerged. Such a space would not only honor victims but also address the broader community concerns regarding the ongoing struggle with youth involvement in gun violence. This initiative seeks to balance respect for victims and a thoughtful approach to the sensitive topic of street naming.
The repeated rejections of the renaming requests highlight the complexities surrounding community memorials and the challenges that cities face in responding to gun violence. As Grand Rapids grapples with these difficult issues, officials continue to search for sustainable ways to support families and raise awareness surrounding the need for prevention measures regarding youth engagement in violence.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Grand Rapids Hit-and-Run Leaves Man Injured
College Student Fatally Shot in Westland Murder-Suicide
Kent County Celebrates Local Heroes with Community Events
YWCA West Central Michigan Enhances Support for Domestic Violence Survivors
Grand Rapids Faces Surge in Gun Violence Homicides
Grand Rapids Police Identify Victims in Recent Homicides
Grand Rapids Police Investigate Deadly Shooting at Local Park
Shooting Incident During Illegal Car Meet-Up in Grand Rapids
Shooting Incident Leaves One Injured in Grand Rapids
Two Men Ordered to Stand Trial for Murder in Grand Rapids
Additional Resources
- MLive: City declines father’s second request to rename Grand Rapids street after his son
- Wikipedia: Gun violence in the United States
- WZZM: Umatilla street renaming for Amillier Penn
- Google Search: Gun Violence Awareness Month
- MLive: Grand Rapids rejects renaming street after teen gun violence victim
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Gun Violence
- Fox17: Umatilla street controversy over naming
- Google News: Grand Rapids gun violence
Author: STAFF HERE GRANDRAPIDS WRITER
GRAND RAPIDS STAFF WRITER The GRAND RAPIDS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREGrandRapids.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Grand Rapids, Kent County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as ArtPrize, Festival of the Arts, and World of Winter. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and Grand Rapids Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in furniture, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Steelcase, Spectrum Health, and Meijer. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HERENorthville.com, HERENovi.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
