Memorial fund organized for man killed
during daughter's basketball game

Terrell Rogers, 39, shown with his daugther Tierra Rogers
was gunned down Saturday during a high-school basketball game
at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory school.
Photo courtesy CBS5

By Ashley Wright

January 17, 2008

Wells Fargo Bank branches are accepting donations for a memorial fund in the name of San Francisco resident Terrell Rogers, 39, who was fatally shot Saturday night during halftime at his daughter's high school basketball game, Hunters Point Family executive director Takai Tyler said.

Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo branch and will be used for Rogers' family to pay for funeral services, make up for the income lost because of his death and provide a college education for Rogers' daughter Tierra Rogers, a high school junior and a blue chip basketball player for Sacred Heart's nationally ranked team.

"His goal was for his daughter to go to college," said Tyler, who worked with Rogers for four years at Hunters Point Family, a grassroots, community-based, youth development agency.

Rogers was the cofounder of Peacekeepers, a non-profit organization focused on helping youth in the Alice Griffith Housing Development in San Francisco. Peacekeepers became part of Hunters Point Family organization in 2003, according to the group's Web site.

Tyler said that Rogers worked with community youth as a mentor, tutor, and mediator, and provided enrichment activities and family support among other services.

"He was a great person and he is definitely going to be missed," Tyler said.

San Francisco police Sgt. Steve Mannina said Tuesday that the Saturday night shooting was not a random act of violence, and that the killers were gunning for Rogers.

Mannina noted that another man who was with Rogers at the time of the shooting was not shot.

Rogers and the unidentified man were attending a basketball game between Sacred Heart and Archbishop Mitty High School at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory. The two men left the gym at the game's halftime and headed for Rogers' van, which was parked across Ellis Street between Franklin and Gough streets.

Two gunmen came upon them when they reached the van and opened fire on Rogers before fleeing on foot, police said. Rogers was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are continuing to investigate and have not determined a motive, Mannina said. Investigators have been interviewing witnesses, looking at surveillance video of the area and posting flyers encouraging anyone with information to contact the Police Department.

School community members, including the girl's basketball team, have been provided grief counseling and prayer services as a result of the shooting, according to the school's Web site.

School officials stated on the site, "SHCP has set in motion procedures to serve the needs of students as our community mourns... During the first period (Monday) morning, members of the women's basketball team attended a prayer service in the school's chapel to grieve and receive the support of counselors, coaches and teammates. The entire school community is praying for the SHCP junior and her family, and all the members of the basketball team."

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact San Francisco Police Department Inspectors Antonio Casillas or Robert Lynch at (415) 553-1149 or call the Police Department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444.

Donations to the Terrell Rogers memorial fund can be made at Wells Fargo banking locations under account No. 6605021671. Checks should be made payable to Girls 2000, and Terrell Rogers should be written in the memo line, according to Tyler.

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