Ryan Gilliam

Ryan Gilliam, an 18-year-old Black man with a bright future, was a senior at Trezevant High School in Memphis, Tennessee, with plans to attend college and pursue a career as an engineer. His family remembers him as a young man whose life was full of promise. His aunt, Rajeeni Gilliam, later expressed the deep pain of their loss, stating, "It hurts; it really does. We have never had a death where they were taken to a senseless crime in the streets, so it hurts."

On the evening of January 9, 2016, that senseless crime occurred. At approximately 5:12 p.m., Ryan arrived at the Pershing Park apartment complex in the 3700 block of Pershing Park, where his sister lived. As he was getting out of his car, he was confronted by three men who were emerging from his sister's apartment, having just burglarized it. The men opened fire on Ryan before fleeing the scene. According to his sister, the burglars had only stolen a pair of shoes and a video game. Police officers found Ryan unresponsive at the scene. He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition but did not survive his injuries.

The Memphis Police Department launched a homicide investigation. Within a month, investigators identified two primary suspects and issued warrants for their arrests on charges of first-degree murder. The men were identified as Terry Johnson and Marktavious Twilley. Police believed they were two of the three men who had shot Ryan during the botched burglary.

The path to justice for Ryan's family would prove to be long and divergent for the two named suspects. Marktavious Twilley was eventually captured and incarcerated for his role in the murder. His case came to a grim conclusion on March 28, 2022, when he was stabbed to death during a fight in prison. While his death closed his chapter in the legal proceedings, the other main suspect remained at large.

For a decade, Terry Johnson evaded capture. He remained a fugitive, leaving Ryan Gilliam's family waiting for justice. The case saw a major breakthrough in the spring of 2026 when investigators with the Memphis Safe Task Force received information that Johnson had relocated to Illinois. They forwarded a lead to the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. On Tuesday, April 15, 2026, U.S. Marshals located and arrested the then 36-year-old Johnson in Peoria, Illinois, nearly 500 miles from Memphis.

Following his arrest after ten years on the run, Johnson was charged in Shelby County, Tennessee, with a litany of offenses related to Ryan's death and other matters. The charges include two counts of first-degree murder, four counts of criminal attempt first-degree murder, five counts of employing a firearm with intent to commit a felony, aggravated burglary, and aggravated assault, among others. Johnson was slated to be extradited back to Tennessee to face these charges.

The arrest brought a renewed sense of hope for Ryan's loved ones. U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller commented on the collaborative effort, stating, “The arrest of Terry Johnson 10 years later and 500 miles from the site of his alleged crime illustrates the dedication of the U.S. Marshals to find and apprehend violent fugitives.” He added, “I commend the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force for responding so quickly to the lead we provided and hope this arrest brings some level of comfort to Ryan Gilliam’s family, who have been waiting so long for justice.” As of April 2026, the case against Terry Johnson is pending, marking a significant step toward accountability in the tragic and untimely death of a promising young man.