City Parking Employee Found Shot Dead in Deck

A Traverse City Parking Services employee was found dead from an apparent shooting in the Larry C. Hardy Parking Deck Sunday. According to the Traverse City Police Department, the killing of 32-year-old Lawrence Boyd IV is believed to be connected to another case this weekend in which two teenagers were arrested following an auto larceny and police chase during which one of the teens shot at police.

The TCPD was dispatched to the State Street parking deck at 7:48am Sunday in response to a reported dead body. Boyd appeared to have died as a result of a shooting, according to the TCPD. Next of kin were notified, and at the request of family the city employee was publicly identified.

Evidence gathered at the scene indicates the homicide is connected to two teenage suspects, both from Traverse City, who were arrested following a Saturday night incident in which they allegedly stole from a car and ran from police. A shelter-in-place alert was issued until the suspects were apprehended. One of the suspects, a 17-year-old, pulled a firearm and fired several shots at pursuing officers. There were no injuries as a result of the shooting; however, one round struck the uniformed pant leg of an officer. That teen faces an attempted homicide charge, while both teens face charges of larceny from an auto and resisting and obstructing. They are both lodged in Grand Traverse County Jail.

Since the suspects are in jail and the firearm has been recovered, there are no further public safety concerns at this time, according to the TCPD. Boyd's murder remains an active investigation, with TCPD Chief Matt Richmond telling The Ticker the parking deck will likely remain closed until Monday. The Traverse City Police Department is being assisted by the Michigan State Police Crime Lab, Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office, Traverse City Fire Department, MMR, Grand Traverse County Central
Dispatch, and Western Michigan University School of Medicine’s Medical Examinars Office.

Interim City Manager Benjamin Marentette provided the following statement to The Ticker:

"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. I also want to thank our law enforcement partners and first responders for their work. 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.”