On a Tuesday evening in November 2023, the life of 26-year-old Quatrail Raynard Smalls of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, was tragically cut short in the Triangle neighborhood of Prince William County. Just before 8:45 p.m. on November 14th, the sound of multiple gunshots echoed through the 3700 block of Wharf Lane, prompting residents to call for help. When officers from the Prince William County Police Department arrived at the scene, they found Smalls lying on the ground, suffering from several
gunshot wounds. First aid was rendered at the scene before he was rushed to a local hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting suggested that it was not a random act of violence, as evidence indicated that an altercation had taken place before the fatal shots were fired. Investigators found shell casings in the roadway on Wharf Lane, and a stray bullet had even struck a nearby apartment in the Linden Park complex, though no other injuries were reported. Police quickly identified 27-year-old Tyus James Terrell of Fredericksburg as a primary suspect in the murder. It was believed that Terrell and Smalls were acquainted with one another.
A manhunt for Terrell ensued, with the police department offering a reward that eventually increased to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest. After months on the run, Terrell was apprehended on July 10, 2024, by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Woodbridge. He was subsequently charged with murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Further investigation into the homicide led to the identification of a second suspect. On September 30, 2024, 27-year-old Keavon Teddrick Coleman of Woodbridge was arrested in Alexandria by U.S. Marshals. Coleman was charged with the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and robbery in connection to the death of Smalls. Both men are awaiting court proceedings for their alleged involvement in the death of Quatrail Raynard Smalls.
