Former NFL Player Terrell Roberts Shot & Killed In His Grandmother's Backyard

BY Erika Marie 7.3K Views
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Terrell Roberts
Witnesses were able to give police a description of the shooter.

Richmond police in California's Bay Area are trying to piece together the mystery of how a former NFL player lost his life on Wednesday. Terrell Roberts, a 38-year-old athlete who played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2003 to 2005, was reportedly visiting his grandmother's home when he was shot and killed in her backyard.

According to KPIX 5 News, an unknown assailant made his way into the grandmother's residence and opened fired on Roberts before fleeing the scene. Witnesses told investigators that they heard a "disturbance" and saw Roberts falling over. Responding police officers found Roberts dead at the scene with a single bullet wound to his chest. It's suspected that the shooter—who is described as a bald black male with a short beard between 20 and 35-years-old weighing about 250 pounds—and Roberts first argued in the garage before the former Bengals player was shot in the yard.

A neighbor told the news station that he spoke with Roberts's grandmother who couldn't believe that anyone who would harm him. "She was saying that she knew some of his so-called friends but she doesn’t know who it was, why they would do it to him," he said. "She didn’t know."

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.