Terrell Johnson was a 38-year-old Black man who had moved his family to Bolingbrook, Illinois, with a vision of providing them with the best education and a bright future. A husband to his wife, Kristian, and a father to three sons—Terrell Jr., age 16, and 4-year-old twins Tehir and Tyree—he was described as the family's unwavering pillar of strength. On the evening he was killed, a family member said he was diligently tending to his business to secure a future for his loved ones.
On May 16, 2024, at approximately 8:29 p.m., officers from the Bolingbrook Police Department were called to the 500 block of Preston Drive for a report of a person shot. They arrived to find Terrell Johnson unresponsive with apparent gunshot wounds. Officers immediately began administering medical aid until paramedics arrived and took over life-saving measures. Johnson was transported to UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:19 p.m.
The Will County Coroner's Office later confirmed his death was a homicide.
Police officials stated early in the investigation that the shooting did not appear to be a random act and likely involved acquaintances. The Bolingbrook Police Department’s Investigations Division pursued the case, and two months later, they made their first arrest. On July 11, 2024, detectives traveled to Rockford, Illinois, and took Carla L. Williams, a 28-year-old woman from Atlanta, Georgia, into custody. After consultation with the Will County State's Attorney's Office, she was charged with first-degree murder, home invasion, attempted armed robbery, and other felonies. Williams was transferred to the Will County Adult Detention Facility on July 13.
The investigation continued, leading to two more arrests the following year. On April 14, 2025, the Will County Fugitive Warrants Unit arrested a second suspect, 29-year-old Mark A. Bell of Chicago. He was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of home invasion, and several additional felony charges for attempted robbery and burglary. Less than a month later, on May 6, 2025, a U.S. Marshals Task Force arrested a third suspect, Brittany Foley, a 32-year-old woman also from Chicago. She faced similar charges, including three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of home invasion.
As of May 2025, all three suspects were in custody at the Will County Adult Detention Facility. Bolingbrook Police commended their investigators for their "relentless dedication" in pursuing justice for Mr. Johnson and his family as the case continued.
