With deep sorrow and heavy hearts, we remember and mourn the life of Sadie Terry, 14, who tragically passed away days after being critically injured in a domestic-related shooting in Richmond, Virginia.
According to the Richmond Police Department, officers were called on Tuesday at approximately 9:50 a.m. to the 3100 block of 5th Avenue following reports of a shooting inside a home in Highland Park. When officers arrived, they found three people suffering from gunshot wounds.
Police identified the suspect as Levy Nelson, 41, the father of Sadie Terry. Investigators say Nelson shot his teenage daughter and also shot her 18-year-old brother, Zion Terry, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. Zion was a student at John Marshall High School, remembered as a young man with milestones ahead of him, including prom and graduation.
Sadie Terry and her mother, a 38-year-old woman, were both transported to a local hospital in critical condition. While the mother’s injuries are now reported as non-life-threatening, Sadie remained in life-threatening condition for several days.
On Friday night, Sadie Terry succumbed to her injuries, marking a second devastating loss from the same tragic incident.
Police say the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute that escalated into a deadly act of violence. Authorities previously described the case as an attempted mass murder.
Following the shooting, Levy Nelson fled the scene. Law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, tracked his movements through license plate reader technology. He was later located in Henrico County after a brief pursuit involving multiple police vehicles. Nelson was taken into custody and turned over to Richmond Police.
He faces charges including malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, with additional charges still pending as the investigation continues.
Sadie Terry is now being remembered as a young life taken far too soon, leaving behind unimaginable grief for her family, friends, and community. Her passing, alongside her brother Zion, has left a deep and lasting heartbreak in Richmond.
May Sadie Terry rest in peace, and may her loved ones find strength and support in the days ahead as they face this profound loss.
