Terrell Epel Youngblood, 21, has admitted to pulling the trigger in a shooting that killed a teenage boy found near the Adam Butzel Recreational Center last August. Youngblood pleaded guilty on Tuesday and is set to learn his sentence on April 3. He was originally charged with second-degree murder, felony-firearm and carrying a concealed weapon.
Guilty plea and next court date
According to ClickOnDetroit, Youngblood entered his guilty plea in Wayne County court on Tuesday, shifting the case from a looming trial to a straight shot toward sentencing. The judge scheduled the sentencing hearing for April 3, wrapping months of pretrial maneuvering that followed the filing of charges late last year.
How police say the shooting unfolded
In a press release from the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, officials said Detroit police were dispatched on Aug. 23 to the 14800 block of Monte Vista Street. Officers later found the teen near the Adam Butzel Recreational Center on the 10000 block of Lyndon Street with a gunshot wound to the head. Medics rushed the victim to a hospital, where he died.
Authorities' response
Investigators allege Youngblood fired multiple shots, then took off from the scene. He was arrested on Oct. 31 and arraigned on Nov. 3, according to the prosecutor’s office. As per Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said, "No parent should have to bury their child," while Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy called the killing a "tragedy."
Court timeline and legal outlook
With the guilty plea now on the record, the main question left for the April 3 hearing is how much time Youngblood will serve. Under Michigan law, second-degree murder is punishable by "imprisonment for life or any term of years," according to the Michigan Legislature. The felony-firearm charge carries a mandatory two-year prison term that must be served back-to-back with any other sentence, per the Michigan Legislature.
What to watch
The April 3 sentencing is the next key moment in the case. Court documents filed in the run-up to that date could reveal whether prosecutors and the defense have agreed on a specific recommendation or are leaving it entirely to the judge. We will watch the docket and the hearing itself and update coverage as new filings and orders hit the public record.
