'Terrence Tusan was a beacon in life. His death is shrouded in mystery.' diff viewer (0/1)

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Terrence Tusan was a beacon in life. His death is shrouded in mystery.	Terrence Tusan was a beacon in life. His death is shrouded in mystery.
2015-02-22 19:05:10 UTC	2015-02-27 12:40:14 UTC (5 days later)
ARLINGTON, Tex. — The many who knew Terrence Tusan cannot reconcile the nature of his life with the nature of his death. Much of the information seems to sow confusion. How did a 22-year-old Howard University running back with a raved-about smile, a diplomatic way, a buoyant view of his own future and no police record wind up dead outside a Texas apartment after allegedly taking part in a home invasion?	ARLINGTON, Tex. — The many who knew Terrence Tusan cannot reconcile the nature of his life with the nature of his death. Much of the information seems to sow confusion. How did a 22-year-old Howard University running back with a raved-about smile, a diplomatic way, a buoyant view of his own future and no police record wind up dead outside a Texas apartment after allegedly taking part in a home invasion?
The news made Tusan’s lifelong friend Greg Pinckney pull off the road into a grocery parking lot. It made Tusan’s high school coach say, “How could that be?” It made family friend Gina Scott say, “One and one is not two.”	The news made Tusan’s lifelong friend Greg Pinckney pull off the road into a grocery parking lot. It made Tusan’s high school coach say, “How could that be?” It made family friend Gina Scott say, “One and one is not two.”
“It doesn’t make sense at all,” said Kelvin Williams, Tusan’s trainer.	“It doesn’t make sense at all,” said Kelvin Williams, Tusan’s trainer.
The known details of Tusan’s death comes from a police investigation. On Dec. 21, Tusan, who was home from Howard on holiday break, watched the Dallas Cowboys game with his mother, Donna, at her comfortable house in Arlington. Later that afternoon, he joined three other men, including a childhood friend, for a drive to North Texas ~~University~~ in Denton, 45 miles north. At 5:38 p.m., 911 calls reported gunshots at the gigantic CastleRock apartment complex in Denton. Two minutes later, police arrived. They found two tenants with minor gunshot wounds in an apartment, and two alleged intruders dead, including Tusan just outside the apartment in the breezeway.	The known details of Tusan’s death comes from a police investigation. On Dec. 21, Tusan, who was home from Howard on holiday break, watched the Dallas Cowboys game with his mother, Donna, at her comfortable house in Arlington. Later that afternoon, he joined three other men, including a childhood friend, for a drive to the University of North Texas in Denton, 45 miles north. At 5:38 p.m., 911 calls reported gunshots at the gigantic CastleRock apartment complex in Denton. Two minutes later, police arrived. They found two tenants with minor gunshot wounds in an apartment, and two alleged intruders dead, including Tusan just outside the apartment in the breezeway.
“We are all still so confused,” said Bruce Fletcher, a family friend. “You have no idea.”	“We are all still so confused,” said Bruce Fletcher, a family friend. “You have no idea.”
Tusan belonged to a familiar foursome of teammates at Howard, and on the night before they dispersed for winter break, they dined at Buffalo Wild Wings. During the meal, his three friends say, Tusan started a conversation about the awkward nature of going home and discerning which old friends to avoid politely.	Tusan belonged to a familiar foursome of teammates at Howard, and on the night before they dispersed for winter break, they dined at Buffalo Wild Wings. During the meal, his three friends say, Tusan started a conversation about the awkward nature of going home and discerning which old friends to avoid politely.
Just after the Cowboys game, he asked his mother, an oncology nurse, if he could assist her with a work project. She declined, figuring he couldn’t decipher her handwriting. He went to his burgeoning closet of clothes, got dressed and asked his mother how he looked. His college friends say he often spoke of visiting North Texas to socialize and meet women.	Just after the Cowboys game, he asked his mother, an oncology nurse, if he could assist her with a work project. She declined, figuring he couldn’t decipher her handwriting. He went to his burgeoning closet of clothes, got dressed and asked his mother how he looked. His college friends say he often spoke of visiting North Texas to socialize and meet women.
In the Denton-bound car were Lloyd Fraction, 21, a former high school cornerback Tusan had known since childhood, and two men police believe Tusan barely knew, Jakobi Dmon Gipson, 18, and Ra’shar Joseph Aikens, 19. Police believe Fraction, the driver, once resided at CastleRock and that he targeted Apartment 511.	In the Denton-bound car were Lloyd Fraction, 21, a former high school cornerback Tusan had known since childhood, and two men police believe Tusan barely knew, Jakobi Dmon Gipson, 18, and Ra’shar Joseph Aikens, 19. Police believe Fraction, the driver, once resided at CastleRock and that he targeted Apartment 511.
“From our university here, we’ve had a lot of good athletes coming here who don’t let go of their past,” Denton police Sgt. Brad Curtis said. “They’re still loyal to those friends. Those friends have taken a different path. You know, they are their friends. They are their lifetime friends . . . [Tusan] came home and he hooked up with guys he grew up with. But sometime in that time frame, maybe something changed.”	“From our university here, we’ve had a lot of good athletes coming here who don’t let go of their past,” Denton police Sgt. Brad Curtis said. “They’re still loyal to those friends. Those friends have taken a different path. You know, they are their friends. They are their lifetime friends . . . [Tusan] came home and he hooked up with guys he grew up with. But sometime in that time frame, maybe something changed.”
Police believe Fraction remained in the car while Aikens, Gipson and Tusan approached the apartment. When one of the tenants answered a knock at the door, at least one of the three rushed in. Police believe each side of the altercation possessed one gun. Authorities found Gipson dead inside the apartment, and Tusan just outside without a wallet, identification or phone. It would take more than a day for medical examiners to identify Tusan, working off family and friends’ descriptions of his tattoos.	Police believe Fraction remained in the car while Aikens, Gipson and Tusan approached the apartment. When one of the tenants answered a knock at the door, at least one of the three rushed in. Police believe each side of the altercation possessed one gun. Authorities found Gipson dead inside the apartment, and Tusan just outside without a wallet, identification or phone. It would take more than a day for medical examiners to identify Tusan, working off family and friends’ descriptions of his tattoos.
Inside the apartment, police found $820, 10.2 grams of prescription drugs and 3.9 grams of leafy matter. On Jan. 6, police arrested Aikens, whom they allege fled the apartment. Fraction turned himself in the next day, then posted $25,000 bail. Police charged both with aggravated robbery. Aikens, who also faces charges stemming from an unrelated case, remains in jail.	Inside the apartment, police found $820, 10.2 grams of prescription drugs and 3.9 grams of leafy matter. On Jan. 6, police arrested Aikens, whom they allege fled the apartment. Fraction turned himself in the next day, then posted $25,000 bail. Police charged both with aggravated robbery. Aikens, who also faces charges stemming from an unrelated case, remains in jail.
Sgt. Curtis said the ongoing investigation has become voluminous. He said the tenants, who required only minor medical treatment and moved out the next day, have hired attorneys but have not been charged. No trial date has been set, according to the district attorney’s office.	Sgt. Curtis said the ongoing investigation has become voluminous. He said the tenants, who required only minor medical treatment and moved out the next day, have hired attorneys but have not been charged. No trial date has been set, according to the district attorney’s office.
“I keep saying to myself, he had to ride from Arlington all the way to Denton,” Fletcher, the family friend, said of Tusan. “That’s a pretty good little ride. And in the full course of that ride, there would have to be some sort of conversation. If you knew things were not kosher, you could have said, ‘Just let me out.’ He could have called me. I would have gone to get him. I’m at a loss. ‘Did you know anything, or you didn’t know anything?’ Somebody had to say something.”	“I keep saying to myself, he had to ride from Arlington all the way to Denton,” Fletcher, the family friend, said of Tusan. “That’s a pretty good little ride. And in the full course of that ride, there would have to be some sort of conversation. If you knew things were not kosher, you could have said, ‘Just let me out.’ He could have called me. I would have gone to get him. I’m at a loss. ‘Did you know anything, or you didn’t know anything?’ Somebody had to say something.”
In Grand Prairie, next to Arlington, there’s a coach who runs various youth teams, camps and events. Clarence Nevels knew Tusan from age 12. He hears all the stories around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and he volunteers his own story of middle-class upbringing, college in Kansas, his return to Texas and early-20s associations with longtime friends that, at 42, he deems unwise. “Never,” he said, had he heard Tusan’s name associated with trouble. “Never. Never. Never.”	In Grand Prairie, next to Arlington, there’s a coach who runs various youth teams, camps and events. Clarence Nevels knew Tusan from age 12. He hears all the stories around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and he volunteers his own story of middle-class upbringing, college in Kansas, his return to Texas and early-20s associations with longtime friends that, at 42, he deems unwise. “Never,” he said, had he heard Tusan’s name associated with trouble. “Never. Never. Never.”
In Tusan’s bedroom in his mother’s house in Arlington, in his dorm apartment at Howard, on phone calls both expected and out-of-the-blue and in a restaurant in Maryland with his father, many paint a life widely beloved.	In Tusan’s bedroom in his mother’s house in Arlington, in his dorm apartment at Howard, on phone calls both expected and out-of-the-blue and in a restaurant in Maryland with his father, many paint a life widely beloved.
Tusan would conclude phone calls to his dearest college friends by saying “One,” to hail their bond. He was a serial encourager who painstakingly reassured a 17-year-old cousin that the mammoth fog of math class would lift. He wished to hone his public-speaking skills because the very idea of a 5-foot-6, 150-pound college running back seemed to enthrall kids.	Tusan would conclude phone calls to his dearest college friends by saying “One,” to hail their bond. He was a serial encourager who painstakingly reassured a 17-year-old cousin that the mammoth fog of math class would lift. He wished to hone his public-speaking skills because the very idea of a 5-foot-6, 150-pound college running back seemed to enthrall kids.
Women called him “respectful” and “refreshing.” Described repeatedly as “smooth,” he long since would play diplomat when friends felt too shy to talk to girls. His three grieving college chums smile at his oft-stated intention to marry “a foreign wife.” His considerable dreams featured an entrepreneurial tilt and a yellow Corvette. His mother marveled at the refinements Howard University had added.	Women called him “respectful” and “refreshing.” Described repeatedly as “smooth,” he long since would play diplomat when friends felt too shy to talk to girls. His three grieving college chums smile at his oft-stated intention to marry “a foreign wife.” His considerable dreams featured an entrepreneurial tilt and a yellow Corvette. His mother marveled at the refinements Howard University had added.
His head coach at Howard, Gary Harrell, called Tusan “a joy to be around, a very respectful young man, ‘Yes, sir,’ ‘No, ma’am.’ ”	His head coach at Howard, Gary Harrell, called Tusan “a joy to be around, a very respectful young man, ‘Yes, sir,’ ‘No, ma’am.’ ”
Said Christian Leal, a teammate of Tusan’s at Euless Trinity High School and a pre-medical student at Stanford: “There were a few guys on the team with questionable character, as there are on most any team, but he was certainly not one of them. He really seemed to respect me a lot being [class] president. He was, in a way, very proud of me for representing that on our football team. He was very earnest. He had that genuine affability.”	Said Christian Leal, a teammate of Tusan’s at Euless Trinity High School and a pre-medical student at Stanford: “There were a few guys on the team with questionable character, as there are on most any team, but he was certainly not one of them. He really seemed to respect me a lot being [class] president. He was, in a way, very proud of me for representing that on our football team. He was very earnest. He had that genuine affability.”
Nevels first saw Tusan as this “little-bitty kid,” then 12, at a football camp at an indoor soccer facility. Nevels’s brother-in-law said the child could play. Nevels fretted the child could get maimed. The brother-in-law restated his case. Nevels inserted Tusan for a toss-sweep, left. A hard safety met the sprite around the corner, drove him into a soccer wall. Nevels flinched.	Nevels first saw Tusan as this “little-bitty kid,” then 12, at a football camp at an indoor soccer facility. Nevels’s brother-in-law said the child could play. Nevels fretted the child could get maimed. The brother-in-law restated his case. Nevels inserted Tusan for a toss-sweep, left. A hard safety met the sprite around the corner, drove him into a soccer wall. Nevels flinched.
“He bounces up, starts clapping his hands, and his exact words were, ‘That’s how I like it,’ ” Nevels said.	“He bounces up, starts clapping his hands, and his exact words were, ‘That’s how I like it,’ ” Nevels said.
By then, Tusan’s family had suffered tragedy. In August 2004 when Terrence was 11, his older brother and only sibling had gone off to study and play football at East Central University in Ada, Okla. About six weeks in, on Sept. 19, after an argument near a river, a man fired shots into the air, hollered racist slurs and rammed his pickup truck three times into a pickup truck carrying 11 East Central students and friends, killing Joseph Tusan and leaving another student a quadriplegic. In August 2005, a jury convicted the man of second-degree murder and 32 counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Later that month, a judge sentenced the man to life in prison plus 320 years.	By then, Tusan’s family had suffered tragedy. In August 2004 when Terrence was 11, his older brother and only sibling had gone off to study and play football at East Central University in Ada, Okla. About six weeks in, on Sept. 19, after an argument near a river, a man fired shots into the air, hollered racist slurs and rammed his pickup truck three times into a pickup truck carrying 11 East Central students and friends, killing Joseph Tusan and leaving another student a quadriplegic. In August 2005, a jury convicted the man of second-degree murder and 32 counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Later that month, a judge sentenced the man to life in prison plus 320 years.
“And I had been running back and forth to New York to my father, with colon cancer, and then he died in August, and then Joseph got killed in September,” Donna Tusan said. “So we didn’t even have time to totally grieve, and then Terrence was trying to be strong because he remembered his brother telling him they needed to be strong for me because of me losing my father. So that’s all he had in his head.”	“And I had been running back and forth to New York to my father, with colon cancer, and then he died in August, and then Joseph got killed in September,” Donna Tusan said. “So we didn’t even have time to totally grieve, and then Terrence was trying to be strong because he remembered his brother telling him they needed to be strong for me because of me losing my father. So that’s all he had in his head.”
Terrence’s life grew vivid, distinctive. A friend, Phyllis Pinckney, said that even as a lad he seemed to have a presence. A friend, Joslyn Spurlock, said that right from junior high, his arrival at a party would brighten the tenor. Donna’s co-workers at the oncology clinic became great-big fans of Terrence.	Terrence’s life grew vivid, distinctive. A friend, Phyllis Pinckney, said that even as a lad he seemed to have a presence. A friend, Joslyn Spurlock, said that right from junior high, his arrival at a party would brighten the tenor. Donna’s co-workers at the oncology clinic became great-big fans of Terrence.
He joked he had a heart shaped like a football, but his frame would deter coaches even as they marveled at his strength. For his last two years of high school, he transferred from Arlington Bowie to Euless Trinity in search of more playing time and less of his brother’s shadow. During his junior year in 2009, Tusan gathered playing time while the starting running back battled injury, then earned a starring role in the 5A state championship game at the Alamodome in San Antonio. He had 107 rushing yards, two touchdowns and won the offensive MVP award in victory.	He joked he had a heart shaped like a football, but his frame would deter coaches even as they marveled at his strength. For his last two years of high school, he transferred from Arlington Bowie to Euless Trinity in search of more playing time and less of his brother’s shadow. During his junior year in 2009, Tusan gathered playing time while the starting running back battled injury, then earned a starring role in the 5A state championship game at the Alamodome in San Antonio. He had 107 rushing yards, two touchdowns and won the offensive MVP award in victory.
“People were asking for autographs, for pictures with him,” said Greg Pinckney, the childhood friend. “I was happy for him. He had proved everybody wrong. Aw, man, we had a ball.”	“People were asking for autographs, for pictures with him,” said Greg Pinckney, the childhood friend. “I was happy for him. He had proved everybody wrong. Aw, man, we had a ball.”
It surprised Donna Tusan when her younger son went clear to Washington for college, but it made sense. Donna and Kevin Tusan, divorced but still friends, had met as Howard students. In 2008, Kevin had moved from Texas to Maryland.	It surprised Donna Tusan when her younger son went clear to Washington for college, but it made sense. Donna and Kevin Tusan, divorced but still friends, had met as Howard students. In 2008, Kevin had moved from Texas to Maryland.
Terrence Tusan arrived at Howard in 2011 and started his painstaking climb through FCS-level football, through hard nights of freshman algebra with teammates and through the thick forest of Spanish. (In his bedroom in Texas, 10 family members and friends laughed recalling his study strategy of trying to meet Spanish-speaking women.)	Terrence Tusan arrived at Howard in 2011 and started his painstaking climb through FCS-level football, through hard nights of freshman algebra with teammates and through the thick forest of Spanish. (In his bedroom in Texas, 10 family members and friends laughed recalling his study strategy of trying to meet Spanish-speaking women.)
He spent college in an inseparable quartet. Tusan had grown up in Texas with the 6-foot-3, 285-pound Howard offensive lineman Kyrian Batiste — they played for a team called the Saints at age 5 — and he would get to know Rodney Tyson, a 5-9, 175-pound wide receiver from Georgia, and Deonta Allen-Wright, a 6-5, 300-pound offensive lineman from Virginia.	He spent college in an inseparable quartet. Tusan had grown up in Texas with the 6-foot-3, 285-pound Howard offensive lineman Kyrian Batiste — they played for a team called the Saints at age 5 — and he would get to know Rodney Tyson, a 5-9, 175-pound wide receiver from Georgia, and Deonta Allen-Wright, a 6-5, 300-pound offensive lineman from Virginia.
Together the four walked and, in their sophomore years, together they resided. They spent long nights chattering about present and future in their apartment with the excellent view from the fourth floor of Cook Hall. Sometimes they’d suddenly notice sunrise. They stayed home often, the Madden video game a big lure, but when they went out, they would help each other dress, Tusan and Tyson sharing clothes.	Together the four walked and, in their sophomore years, together they resided. They spent long nights chattering about present and future in their apartment with the excellent view from the fourth floor of Cook Hall. Sometimes they’d suddenly notice sunrise. They stayed home often, the Madden video game a big lure, but when they went out, they would help each other dress, Tusan and Tyson sharing clothes.
Batiste, a graphic design major, sought Tusan’s suggestions on his paintings, including two recently accepted to a Howard art show. Tusan wrote music on GarageBand. They sat around hatching business concepts, and they can point out precisely the spot they believe a Chick-fil-A could make a mint. They talked of growing the foundation established in honor of Joseph Tusan. After Terrence Tusan had visited a friend in San Diego, they spoke of living in California.	Batiste, a graphic design major, sought Tusan’s suggestions on his paintings, including two recently accepted to a Howard art show. Tusan wrote music on GarageBand. They sat around hatching business concepts, and they can point out precisely the spot they believe a Chick-fil-A could make a mint. They talked of growing the foundation established in honor of Joseph Tusan. After Terrence Tusan had visited a friend in San Diego, they spoke of living in California.
As the motley sight of the four grew familiar on the sidewalks, the 150-pounder and the 175-pounder took to joking that the 285-pounder and the 300-pounder were their bodyguards.	As the motley sight of the four grew familiar on the sidewalks, the 150-pounder and the 175-pounder took to joking that the 285-pounder and the 300-pounder were their bodyguards.
All four wished more playing time for Tusan, a backup running back who rushed for 331 yards last season as a redshirt junior. All four reveled when, in a game at Rutgers of the Big Ten last Sept. 6, Tusan tore off for a 70-yard touchdown in a 38-25 loss. Donna Tusan fall asleep many nights watching the highlight on YouTube. “Mom, really?” Terrence said.	All four wished more playing time for Tusan, a backup running back who rushed for 331 yards last season as a redshirt junior. All four reveled when, in a game at Rutgers of the Big Ten last Sept. 6, Tusan tore off for a 70-yard touchdown in a 38-25 loss. Donna Tusan fall asleep many nights watching the highlight on YouTube. “Mom, really?” Terrence said.
Tyson said Tusan often advised him to augment his trips home to Georgia with speeches to children, and Tusan himself did so yet again last Thanksgiving, handing out awards at Nevels’s large annual youth football event at AT&T Stadium.	Tyson said Tusan often advised him to augment his trips home to Georgia with speeches to children, and Tusan himself did so yet again last Thanksgiving, handing out awards at Nevels’s large annual youth football event at AT&T Stadium.
“I was just very pleased at how, as a person, I didn’t just love my son, I liked my son,” Donna said. “And there’s a thing about, you know, you can have children and you love them with all you’ve got, but to be able to say that you like them. I liked who he was. I liked the person that he was.”	“I was just very pleased at how, as a person, I didn’t just love my son, I liked my son,” Donna said. “And there’s a thing about, you know, you can have children and you love them with all you’ve got, but to be able to say that you like them. I liked who he was. I liked the person that he was.”
When the news of Terrence’s death came to Kevin Tusan, the father and avid chess player who recently went back to school for his MBA, he first reacted with anger.	When the news of Terrence’s death came to Kevin Tusan, the father and avid chess player who recently went back to school for his MBA, he first reacted with anger.
“I start cursing at him, and saying, ‘How could you do this?’ You know?” he said recently in Maryland. “This is outrageous.”	“I start cursing at him, and saying, ‘How could you do this?’ You know?” he said recently in Maryland. “This is outrageous.”
Kevin Tusan went to his car, and when he closed the door, the rear window cracked. Soon, it shattered. He smiled. He saw it as his son’s rebuttal.	Kevin Tusan went to his car, and when he closed the door, the rear window cracked. Soon, it shattered. He smiled. He saw it as his son’s rebuttal.