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RICHMOND — A former NFL defensive back and El Cerrito High School sports star was shot and killed at this grandmother’s home Wednesday, police said.
Terrell Roberts, 38, who played two seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals, died in the backyard with a gunshot wound in his chest, Richmond police spokesman Sgt. Enrik Melgoza said. Officers were called to the home in the 1200 block of Fascination Circle around 4:10 p.m., he said.
Police did not identify a suspect, but Melgoza said Roberts and his killer had an altercation in front of the garage.
“The relationship between the suspect and Mr. Roberts is still unclear at this time,” Melgoza said. “The home belongs to his grandmother. Lots of family members live there. This was not something that was random.”
Police said the suspect was a black male, approximately 20-35 years old, bald with a short beard and weighs about 250 pounds. He wore a black shirt, police said.
Roberts signed with the Bengals in 2003 after going undrafted out of Oregon State. He played 23 games over two seasons, starting once and intercepting a pass.
The Bengals released him in 2005.
Before that, Roberts was a star for the Gauchos, playing cornerback and running back and emerging as one of the top high school defensive talents on the West Coast.
“He was an outstanding talent, and he wasn’t a selfish player,” former longtime El Cerrito coach Frank Milo, 78, said Thursday. “He always worked hard for what he achieved. I can recall when he was a sophomore, I brought him up to varsity about halfway through the season, and he started at cornerback that year. The next two years, he was just tremendous. He started both ways and never came off the field. He also returned punts and kickoffs on special teams.”
Roberts’ family told news station KPIX that her had a “heart of gold” and was “not mixed up in anything bad.” This paper was unable to reach the Roberts family on Thursday.
“He was just a really good kid,” Milo said. “He made an effort in the classroom and made sure he was always eligible. I remember spring of his junior year he spent Saturday mornings at Cal taking a class to prepare for the SAT. He was top-notch on the field, and top-notch off the field. I really loved the guy.”