On Detroit's west side, two families are once again begging for answers. Their renewed push for justice came yesterday after Crime Stoppers increased the reward in the still-unsolved 2019 double homicide that took the lives of fathers Ozie Terrell and Jermaine Williams. The men were killed during a home invasion, and relatives say their children are growing up without their dads, while the case appears stalled in public. Family members told local reporters they are hoping the fresh spotlight will finally bring in the tip that moves the investigation forward.
The 2019 attack
According to WDIV, the shootings happened on Oct. 10, 2019, when two gunmen burst into a home in the 20200 block of Fenmore Street and opened fire. Williams and Terrell were shot, and another person was wounded while trying to escape. Police say the suspects took off in a newer-model Dodge Charger with black rims and tinted windows. The victims were rushed to a hospital, where they later died, and to date, police have not publicly announced any arrests in the case.
Families press for answers
Since the killings, relatives have organized memorials and balloon releases and say the grief never really lets up. "Every time we have to go through this, we are reliving the death all over again," Janice Brinkley, Terrell’s sister, told FOX 2 Detroit. Both victims were fathers, and family members say some potential witnesses are afraid to come forward or testify, which they believe has slowed progress even as detectives continue to chase leads.
Reward increase and past offers
CBS News Detroit reported this week that Crime Stoppers has raised the cash reward connected to the case. CBS did not specify the new amount in its video, but earlier coverage shows the offer has shifted over time. In 2019, WDIV reported a reward of up to $2,500, and WWJ Newsradio later reported that by 2021, the group had at times posted as much as $5,500.
How to submit a tip
Anyone with information is urged to reach out anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP (1-800-773-2587) or online at 1800speakup.org, which local outlets have cited in their reporting. Tips can be submitted without directly talking to police or taking the stand in court, and relatives say even a detail that seems minor could be the missing piece. Investigators have not announced any arrests and continue to publicly call on witnesses to step forward.
What this means locally
For the families of Terrell and Williams, the lack of closure has become its own kind of wound, and they say their latest appeal is aimed at shaking loose information from people who may be hesitant to talk. The renewed attention highlights how unsolved homicides can linger in a neighborhood for years, affecting kids, parents, and entire blocks. It also underscores how crucial community cooperation is to solving violent crimes. Crime Stoppers and local news outlets continue to share the tip line as the case remains open.
