TK KELLY was days shy of heading out to play college football on a full scholarship when he was tragically killed in Richmond, California in 2004.
His death is being examined in the latest episode of Murder Under The Friday Night Lights, airing tonight at 10pm on Investigation Discovery.
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TK, a nickname for Terrance Kelly, was waiting in his car for the son of his father’s girlfriend outside a Richmond home when tragedy struck.
Kelly was found in his car with multiple gunshot wounds.
He had been struck three times in the head and once in the back, according to reports.
Brandon Young, who had called Kelly for a ride home, discovered the wounded man and shouted for help.
It reportedly took around 15 minutes for an ambulance to arrive.
Court documents state Kelly’s cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds to the head and torso.
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The standout football star was set to attend the University of Oregon on a full ride just days after his death.
Kelly had risen to fame playing ball at De La Salle High School where he was named a top 100 athlete of 2004 and was a first-team selection for the All-Times football team.
Who killed Terrance Kelly?
In 2004, Richmond, California saw nearly 100 homicides, according to US News.
The same week Kelly was killed in 2004, there were a number of other shootings in the Richmond area.
But Kelly’s murder did not appear to be entirely random.
Police believe Kelly’s death may have stemmed from an altercation that took place the previous summer at a basketball tournament.
Kelly and Darren Pratcher reportedly had an exchange during the tournament, with Kelly offending or disrespecting Pratcher, according to witness statements.
A year later, a .22 caliber rifle was found near the scene of Kelly’s death with fingerprints on it belonging to Pratcher.
He turned himself in on August 17, 2004, five days after the shooting.
Pratcher was just 15 years old at the time of the crime. He was tried as an adult despite his age.
The trial began in August 2006 and he was convicted of first-degree murder in 2007.
According to reports, Pratcher’s lawyer tried to argue that the shooting was a case of mistaken identity. That argument, along with attempts for a new trial were not successful.
On the day of sentencing, Superior Court Judge Laurel Brady said: “I don’t do this easily. It makes me extremely sad to be here today, but I don’t think it’s inappropriate in this circumstance.”
He was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison and is currently serving his sentence at Centinelа Stаte Prison in Imperiаl, Cаliforniа.
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