TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — A wave of shock and grief swept through Traverse City this weekend after a city parking employee was found shot dead in a downtown parking deck, a crime authorities say is tied to a dramatic police pursuit involving two local teenagers. The incident, which unfolded over the course of Saturday night and Sunday morning, left the community reeling and prompted a temporary lockdown of Northwestern Michigan College as police scrambled to apprehend the suspects.
According to the Traverse City Police Department (TCPD), the ordeal began around 10:07 p.m. on November 15, 2025, when officers were called to the 1200 block of East 8th Street to investigate a report of larceny from a vehicle. Officers quickly spotted two individuals matching descriptions provided by witnesses—both wearing hoodies and masks—leaving the area. When officers approached them in a parking lot on the 100 block of Munson Avenue, the suspects bolted, setting off a tense foot chase through the city’s streets.
During the pursuit, the situation escalated dangerously. Police say one of the suspects, later identified as 17-year-old Eugene Dale Thompson of Traverse City, pulled a firearm and fired several shots at the officers. In a harrowing moment, one bullet struck the pant leg of a TCPD officer, but, incredibly, no injuries were reported. As the chase continued, the suspects split up, triggering a citywide search involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Michigan State Police, Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office, and the Traverse City Fire Department.
By late Saturday night, the city had issued a shelter-in-place advisory, and Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) was placed on lockdown. Students received urgent emails and calls instructing them to stay indoors or avoid campus altogether. As one NMC student told UpNorthLive, "NMC is currently on lockdown. Avoid the campus for the time being. Campus Security. Thank you, Grand Traverse County Emergency Notification." The college also offered support services to students who found the incident distressing, with NMC Student Life making counselors available by phone and email.
The manhunt came to a head when Michigan State Police executed a search warrant at a local hotel. Thompson was apprehended outside the hotel room, and officers recovered the firearm used in the shooting, along with spent casings. The second suspect, an 18-year-old whose name has not been publicly released, was arrested in a parking lot at NMC’s 1701 E. Front St. campus. Both teens, residents of Traverse City, were taken into custody without further incident.
But the story took a darker turn early the next morning. At approximately 7:45 a.m. on November 16, TCPD officers responded to a call about a body found in the Larry C. Hardy Parking Deck on East State Street. There, they discovered Lawrence Boyd IV, a 32-year-old Traverse City Parking Services employee, dead from an apparent gunshot wound. According to The Ticker, next of kin were notified, and at the family’s request, Boyd’s identity was made public.
Detectives swiftly connected Boyd’s murder to the events of the previous night. As TCPD Chief Matt Richmond explained to The Detroit News, "Physical and video evidence collected at both scenes" linked the suspects to the homicide. Richmond noted that the motive for Boyd’s killing remained unclear, but both teens were allegedly present at the time of the shooting. Police are still working to determine the precise role of the 18-year-old, who as of Monday had not been charged in the slaying.
The charges facing the suspects are severe. Thompson, 17, is being charged as an adult with first-degree murder, attempted homicide, larceny from auto, and resisting and obstructing police. He is currently being held in the Grand Traverse County Jail. The 18-year-old faces charges of larceny from auto and resisting and obstructing police, but authorities have not yet released his name or charged him in connection with Boyd’s death. Both suspects are expected to be arraigned on November 18 in the 86th District Court in Traverse City.
Throughout the ordeal, officers exercised remarkable restraint. Chief Richmond told The Detroit News that none of his officers returned fire during the chase, and none have been placed on administrative leave. The firearm used in both the police shooting and the homicide was recovered, and authorities say there are no ongoing public safety concerns now that the suspects are in custody.
The city’s response has been swift and compassionate. Interim City Manager Benjamin Marentette issued a heartfelt statement, saying, "This tragedy is heartbreaking. I want to thank the members of the exceptional Traverse City Police Department, under the leadership of Police Chief Matt Richmond, for their work. Their actions stopped more horrible things from happening that would have affected more lives. We extend our deepest sympathies and our love to the family of Lawrence Boyd IV, a teammate in our Parking Services Department. While often this goes unsaid, I also extend our thoughts to the suspects’ families. We are making support services available to all city employees who comprise Team Traverse City.”
As the investigation continues, the city has taken steps to support those affected. The Larry C. Hardy Parking Deck was closed to the public and is expected to remain so until at least Monday, as the Michigan State Police Crime Lab and Western Michigan University School of Medicine’s Medical Examiner’s Office continue their work. Support services are being offered to city employees, and NMC has reached out to students to provide counseling and reassurance.
The events of November 15 and 16 have left an indelible mark on Traverse City. The killing of a city worker, the involvement of local teenagers, and the risk to law enforcement officers have all contributed to a sense of vulnerability and sorrow in this tight-knit community. As authorities prepare for the suspects’ court appearance, many residents are left grappling with the senselessness of the violence and searching for answers about what led to such a tragic outcome.
Yet, amid the heartache, there has been an outpouring of gratitude for the rapid response from law enforcement and the resilience of the community. As Traverse City begins to heal, the memory of Lawrence Boyd IV and the lessons learned from this weekend’s tragedy will not soon be forgotten.
