As a stunned community mourns, police are investigating the fatal shooting of a former NFL player at his grandmother’s home in Richmond on Wednesday.
Terrell Roberts, 38, who played defensive back with the Cincinnati Bengals in the mid 2000s and graduated from El Cerrito High, was reportedly shot at a home in the 1200 block of Fascination Circle, Richmond police Sgt. Enrik Melgoza said.
Officers responded to the scene at about 4:10 p.m. and found Roberts in the backyard of his grandmother’s home with a gunshot wound to the chest, Melgoza said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators determined the shooting happened in the garage following a disturbance between Roberts and the suspect. Roberts subsequently went out to the back yard where officers found him.
It is not yet known whether Roberts knew the suspect, who was described as a bald black man with a short beard in his 20s or early 30s, weighing about 250 pounds and wearing a black T-shirt, Melgoza said.
Roberts played college football at Oregon State University and signed with the Bengals in 2003, remaining for two years.
His death has made national news, but the impact was particularly felt on many in the community who knew him.
According to CBS SF, which spoke with his family, Roberts had a “heart of gold,” no known enemies and was not “mixed up in anything bad.”
Loved ones and friends are paying tribute to Roberts.
Local rapper and comedian Ricky Antonio described “Rell” as “one of the dopest personal trainers” out of Richmond. Roberts’ Instagram handle was @relishphysique.
