On a spring morning in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, the life of Terrance Andrew West, a 25-year-old Black / African American man, was tragically cut short. On April 6, 2021, on Clare Avenue, West was fatally shot. Born in Austin, Texas, on September 24, 1995, he was known as a dedicated family man and a hard worker. After attending Hayti High School, he went on to work at Tyson Foods in Dexter, Missouri.
Seeking to further his career, he had recently completed a safety course to become a construction site flagger in November 2020.
The investigation into his death quickly pointed to it not being a random act of violence. Later that same day, at around 6 p.m., a 36-year-old man named Caleb Scowden turned himself into the Poplar Bluff Police Station for questioning in connection with the shooting. The authorities took Scowden into custody as a suspect in the homicide, marking a significant development in the case as they continued to delve into the motive and circumstances that led to the fatal encounter.
In the wake of his untimely passing, those who knew Terrance West remembered his kindness and his deep love for his children. His death left a profound void in the lives of his family and friends. Funeral services were held on April 17, 2021, at the Divine Holiness Church in Caruthersville, Missouri, and he was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery in Hayti, Missouri. The community closely followed the legal proceedings that followed, seeking justice for a life taken too soon.
