Aamina Bradley, 14, drowned Saturday at Maheras-Gentry Park after her younger cousin fell into the Detroit River.
DETROIT, MI — A 14-year-old girl drowned Saturday night in the Detroit River after jumping into the water to help her 9-year-old cousin during a family graduation party at Maheras-Gentry Park, police and family members said.
Aamina Bradley died after the cousin fell into the river at the east-side park and Aamina went in after her, her father, Glenn Bradley, said. Bystanders pulled the younger child from the water, but Aamina disappeared beneath the surface before rescuers could reach her. Detroit police said the response began after a call about children struggling in the river about 8:30 p.m. Saturday. The case remained under investigation Monday, with officials describing the response as a rescue effort that became a recovery.
The family had gathered at Maheras-Gentry Park for a graduation celebration when Aamina and her cousin went near the water, Bradley said. The cousin fell in, and Aamina followed in an attempt to help. “Aamina, she loved the water,” Bradley said, adding that he often took his daughter to pools and that she knew how to swim. He said the river was different because of its setting and current. “Just in a river, in that type of setting, in that current, it pulls you out,” Bradley said. Police said one child had been rescued before officers arrived, but Aamina had not resurfaced.
Detroit police, Detroit fire crews, the police dive team, Detroit Harbormasters and the U.S. Coast Guard were involved in the search, according to officials and local reports. Lawrence Purifoy, commander of the Detroit Police Department’s 5th Precinct, said crews searched after learning that one of the children was still missing in the water. “Unfortunately, our rescue efforts turned into a recovery effort,” Purifoy said. Aamina’s body was recovered from the Detroit River near Maheras-Gentry Park. Police said the other child was expected to be OK. Officials did not immediately release additional details about how far the children were from shore, how long Aamina was in the water or whether any barriers or warning signs were near the area where the children entered.
Bradley said he also went into the water to try to save his daughter but could not reach her. He said another person had to help him after he began struggling. “Her last words were ‘dad help me,’” Bradley said. “When I went out there, she disappeared, she went under and never came back up. Somebody had to save me because I was drowning.” The Detroit River runs along the city’s east side and separates Detroit from Windsor, Ontario. Maheras-Gentry Park sits along the riverfront and includes open park space near the water. Police did not say Monday whether the incident would lead to any review of safety conditions at the park.
Family members described Aamina as a loving teenager who cared deeply for her relatives and had hopes for the future. Bradley said his daughter dreamed of becoming a scientist. He said her death has shaken her siblings and the rest of the family. “Everybody tore up but they maintaining,” he said. He called Aamina his baby girl and said he felt numb after losing her. “At the end of the day, my daughter, she was a warrior, she had a beautiful heart,” Bradley said. “She had the most beautiful smile.” Family members said her decision to go into the river reflected how she looked out for others.
The drowning happened as many families were gathering near the water during the first full weekend after the start of summer. Officials did not report criminal charges, and police described the matter as an emergency response and recovery. The investigation is expected to include witness accounts, the sequence of the 911 call, the rescue of the 9-year-old and the recovery of Aamina’s body. It was not immediately clear whether investigators would release a full incident report or whether the medical examiner would issue additional findings beyond the reported drowning. Detroit police extended condolences to Aamina’s family after the recovery.
By Monday, relatives were remembering Aamina as a child who tried to save someone else and did not make it back from the river. The 9-year-old cousin survived, and police had not announced any new findings. The next public update is expected to come from police or family representatives if more details are released.
Author note: Last updated June 29, 2026.