Samarion R. Campbell Aranda, known affectionately as “Papi” to his loved ones, was a 17-year-old junior at Horlick High School in Racine, Wisconsin. Born on September 14, 2009, he was remembered by his older sister as a “good person” who was funny and loved. His death added a second layer of profound tragedy for his family, who had lost Samarion’s older sister, Sandra "Nana" Aranda, in a house fire just eight months prior.
Samarion was survived by his parents, Margarita Aranda and Ramone Campbell, his grandmother, and numerous siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins who were left reeling from another unexpected loss.
In the early morning hours of Sunday, October 4, 2026, Samarion’s family and friends gathered at Lockwood Park on Graceland Boulevard in Racine. They were there to celebrate the birthday of their late sister, Sandra. As the gathering grew, spreading by word of mouth, fights began to break out among the crowd after 1 a.m. Samarion’s sister, Giselle Aranda, recalled that her brother got into a fight with one person. She said that a 16-year-old male, with whom Samarion had previous issues, then approached and shot him.
Police were dispatched to the park at approximately 1:13 a.m. following reports that two people had been shot. Officers arrived to a chaotic scene, with nearby surveillance video capturing the sound of multiple gunshots followed by a caravan of cars speeding away from the park. They found Samarion Campbell with a gunshot wound to his back. Paramedics transported him to Ascension All Saints Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. A second victim, a 16-year-old male, was found with a gunshot wound to his torso or chest. He was also taken to Ascension before being transferred to Children’s Hospital for treatment.
The Racine Police Department launched an investigation into the shooting, which they determined was the city’s sixth homicide of the year. Investigators learned that the shooting stemmed from an altercation during the large, informal gathering at the park, which is officially closed to the public between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. In the immediate aftermath, police stated they were still working to understand the circumstances that led to the fight and the subsequent gunfire.
The wounded 16-year-old was identified as a person of interest and was taken into custody while still hospitalized. The Racine Police Department announced that it had referred a charge of first-degree intentional homicide against the teen to the Racine County District Attorney's Office for review. The district attorney’s office would be responsible for the final charging decision and determining in which court the case would be heard. Police did not publicly identify the suspect.
In the days following the tragedy, Samarion’s family and friends pleaded for an end to gun violence in their community. "I'm so hurt because I lost two siblings in like a year, and this one is really taking me because this is my baby brother," Giselle Aranda said. Samarion's friend, Dariyah Stidman, also spoke out, saying, "I want everybody to remember him and at least get something started in the community to stop the gun violence, because this is unacceptable." A vigil for Samarion was planned at Lockwood Park.
The investigation into Samarion Campbell's death remains active. As of October 2026, the case was proceeding through the legal system. The Racine Police Department has urged anyone with information or video of the incident to contact their Investigations Unit at (262) 635-7756. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Crime Stoppers at (262) 636-9330 or by using the P3 Tips app.
