Grantonio Roosevelt Phipps

Grantonio Roosevelt Phipps, a 23-year-old Black man with a passion for cooking and a dream of helping others, was known to his loved ones as "Tone." Born in Flint, Michigan, on November 5, 1992, to Artisha Phipps and Grant Peeples, Sr., Grantonio was a resident of nearby Mt. Morris at the time of his death. He was a graduate of Beecher High School and was continuing his education at ITT Technical Institute. He also worked at a Texas Roadhouse restaurant, honing the culinary skills he hoped to one day use in his own food wagon, with which he dreamed of delivering hot meals door-to-door for senior citizens. A man of faith, he had found Christ at a young age and was a member of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church. His family remembered his kind spirit and generous ambitions.

The final hours of Grantonio’s life ended in violence in the early morning of Sunday, February 21, 2016. At approximately 3 a.m., he was shot in the parking lot of the City Diner, located at 3010 N. Saginaw Street in his birth city of Flint. The circumstances that led to the shooting have not been publicly detailed. After being shot, Grantonio was rushed to Hurley Medical Center for treatment. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital that same day.

The Flint Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation into Grantonio's death. Authorities processed the scene for evidence in the diner's parking lot and began seeking a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting. In the days following the incident, police publicly confirmed they were investigating the case as a murder and asked for anyone with information to come forward to assist them in their search for the person or persons responsible for ending the young man's life.

As of the initial investigation, no arrests were publicly announced, and no suspects were officially named. The case was an active and open homicide investigation, with detectives seeking tips from the community to help solve the crime. Information regarding specific evidence recovered from the scene or potential motives was not released to the public. The investigation into who shot Grantonio and why remains unresolved, leaving his family and community without answers or justice.

Grantonio was deeply mourned by a large and loving family. He was survived by his mother, Artisha; his stepfather, Michael Nelson; and numerous siblings, including brothers Demetrius and Grant Jr., and sisters Tabitha, Jaquanda, Shartisha, Jatora, and Mikala. He was preceded in death by his father. His family held a funeral service to honor his memory on Thursday, March 3, 2016, at Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Flint, where friends and relatives gathered to say their final goodbyes.

Years have passed since Grantonio Phipps was killed, and his case has grown cold. The investigation remains open, but there have been no new public developments or announcements of arrests. His loved ones continue to wait for a breakthrough that will bring closure and hold his killer accountable. The Flint Police Department continues to ask anyone with information regarding the shooting death of Grantonio Phipps to contact them.