GRAND RAPIDS (WOOD-AM) - Residents expressed objections yesterday over a proposal to commemoratively rename part of Umatilla Street to honor 15-year-old Amillier Penn, who was shot and killed while playing football with friends last year.
There was a city commission hearing on the request yesterday.
"You guys are going to open up a can of worms that you cannot close if you keep naming different streets after kids who pass," one resident said.
"We do not need a sign to validate violence, crime, that is how I see it," another neighbor said.
Corey Penn asked for the designation for his son.
"I don't even know if they knew or cared that I was there," Corey Penn told WOOD-TV. "Some of those reasonings I don’t think came from a good place."
Commissioners are expected to vote on the proposal at a later date.
More at WOOD-TV.