On a subdued but determined Father's Day weekend in Detroit, Terrance Graham spent another year doing what has become his painful tradition: honoring his son while demanding answers. His son, Martinus Wilson, was 20 when he was shot and killed while sitting in a parked car in June 2016. A decade later the case is still unsolved, and the holiday now doubles as a memorial and a public plea for justice.
“We would never give up,” Graham said, according to ClickOnDetroit. He is set to speak Saturday at a Father's Day brunch called “When Fathers Weep” at the Helen Moore Community Center. Graham and his family told the station they work to keep Martinus' memory present through community events and outreach. Graham said it is faith and stubborn persistence that keep them going in their search for justice.
The 2016 shooting
Detroit police say the shooting took place around 3 a.m. on June 15, 2016, in the 6000 block of Rohns Street when two suspects walked up to a parked vehicle and opened fire, killing Martinus Wilson and Nathan Mosby and wounding a third person, according to CBS Detroit. That report identifies the address as 6049 Rohns Street near Gratiot. The case eventually went cold, but authorities reopened the investigation in 2023, Fox2 Detroit reported.
Keeping his memory alive
Martinus' mother, Patrice Wilson‑Graham, and partners launched the Martinus Way Foundation to channel their grief into support for young people, single parents and families, according to the organization's website. The foundation highlights programs including grief recovery coaching, mentorship and educational support, all aimed at helping families build stability and opportunity. Relatives say the nonprofit work keeps Martinus' name and values in everyday circulation, not just on an anniversary or a headstone.
Where to hear him speak
Graham is scheduled to address attendees Saturday at the Helen Moore Community Center during the “When Fathers Weep” brunch, ClickOnDetroit reports. The recently renovated center now serves as a busy neighborhood hub, which organizers say makes it a fitting place for a gathering focused on fathers who have lost children to homicide. The brunch is meant to honor those killed and give grieving fathers space to speak openly about both pain and resilience.
How to help
Anyone with information about the 2016 shooting is urged to contact Detroit Police or reach out anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP or through the group's online tip form. The portal is hosted by Crime Stoppers of Michigan. In December 2023, Crime Stoppers announced a cash reward of up to $2,500 for information in the case, CBS Detroit reported.
For Graham and his family, every June is another reminder that memory and pressure are the main tools they have to keep this cold case from fading away. They say they intend to keep pushing until someone speaks up and they finally get answers.
