In the early morning hours of October 15, 2017, the life of 26-year-old Terrance Devon Pannell was tragically cut short in Roanoke, Virginia. A Black male, Pannell was discovered by his fiancée inside a residence he was renovating in the 1600 block of Mercer Avenue NW. She had gone to check on him and found the back door ajar, leading to the grim discovery of his body. Roanoke Police were dispatched to the scene at approximately 12:34 a.m. following a report of a man down with a gunshot wound.
Upon their arrival, they found Pannell deceased, having sustained at least one gunshot wound.
The news of Pannell's death was a devastating blow to his family, particularly to his mother, Tamikco Pannell, for whom this was the second time she had lost a son to gun violence in northwest Roanoke. Her other son, Saeed Majied, was killed in 2013. She described Terrance as a family man who was excited about fixing up the house where he was ultimately found. He left behind a loving family, including his parents, siblings, a baby, and his fiancée.
In the wake of the shooting, police began a homicide investigation, collecting physical evidence from the home and interviewing those who knew Pannell to piece together a timeline of his final hours. Despite their efforts and pleas to the public for information, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Terrance Pannell. The case remains an open and ongoing investigation, leaving his family still searching for answers and justice for their loss.
