In the early morning hours of Saturday, July 30, 2022, the life of 18-year-old Terrell Tejeda Woodard was tragically cut short in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Known affectionately as TJ, the young man was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound around 4 a.m. in the 1300 block of College Avenue NE, between Curtis and Brenner streets. When authorities arrived at the scene, he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy later confirmed that his death was a homicide.
Terrell was remembered by his family as a smart, funny, and optimistic person with a winning personality and a bright smile. His sudden and violent death left his loved ones devastated, grappling with the knowledge that his future was stolen from him. The pain of their loss has been compounded by the lack of answers and justice in the years that have followed.
The Grand Rapids Police Department's Major Case Team launched an investigation into Terrell's murder. Despite their ongoing efforts, the case has proven to be challenging. Authorities have indicated that they have encountered conflicting accounts from multiple individuals, complicating the path to identifying a suspect and making an arrest. As of the summer of 2025, no arrests have been made in connection with Terrell Tejeda Woodard's death, and no suspects have been publicly named.
Terrell's family continues to hold out hope that someone will come forward with information that will lead to a breakthrough in the case. They have made public pleas for anyone with knowledge of the shooting to contact the Grand Rapids Police Department or Silent Observer. The family remains in close contact with investigators, clinging to the hope that one day they will receive the call that justice has been served for TJ. In the meantime, the community is left to remember a young life lost too soon as a family waits for closure.
