Lawrence Holdridge Boyd IV, a 32-year-old white male, was remembered by loved ones as a kindhearted man with a passion for helping others. A graduate of Ferris State University with a degree in Criminal Justice, Larry, as he was known, loved kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking in the great outdoors of Traverse City, Michigan. He was a devoted partner to his girlfriend, Amanda Evans, and was living on Old Mission Peninsula to care for his mother, Kristina Hooper, as she battled bone cancer. His obituary called him a hero who died in a senseless tragedy.
That tragedy began to unfold on the night of Saturday, November 15, 2025. Traverse City police were investigating a series of car break-ins when they encountered two suspects, 17-year-old Eugene Thompson and 18-year-old Hunter Vanderwall. The two fled on foot, and during the pursuit, Thompson allegedly fired a stolen handgun at the officers. One bullet struck an officer’s pant leg but caused no injury.
A shelter-in-place order was issued for the area until both teenagers were apprehended and taken into custody.
The full gravity of the night's events became clear the following morning. On Sunday, November 16, at approximately 7:48 a.m., the body of Lawrence Boyd was discovered in the Larry C. Hardy Parking Deck on East State Street. An employee of the City of Traverse City Parking Services, Boyd had been on duty when he was fatally shot. Investigators said he was killed at about 9:30 p.m. the previous night, and evidence quickly linked his murder to the two teenagers arrested in connection with the car larcenies and the shooting at police.
Thompson and Vanderwall were arraigned on November 18, 2025. Thompson was charged as an adult with first-degree murder, attempted murder for firing at the officer, and several other felonies. Vanderwall was charged with felony murder, resisting and obstructing, and stealing from a vehicle. Both pleaded not guilty and were denied bond.
The investigation expanded, and by April 2026, three more people faced charges in connection with the case. Austin Bucco pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and lying to a police officer. In July 2026, he was sentenced to three to 7.5 years in prison. Another woman was charged with lying to police, and a juvenile faced delinquency proceedings for allegedly providing the gun used in the homicide.
The legal proceedings for the two main suspects moved forward on separate tracks. After a competency evaluation, Eugene Thompson was bound over to the 13th Circuit Court to stand trial on the first-degree murder charge. Hunter Vanderwall’s case was delayed pending multiple competency evaluations requested by his defense team, which raised concerns about his memory and cognitive functioning. As of August 2026, a judge had granted a request for an independent competency evaluation for Vanderwall, who remained in custody.
