Tyler Austin Young, a 25-year-old Black man from Durham, North Carolina, was remembered for his charismatic personality, infectious smile, and enormous heart. A graduate of Hillside High School and UNC Pembroke, he was an entrepreneur and photographer who worked as a team lead at Spectrum. Friends and family said he made a huge impact on anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.
On the night of November 21, 2022, that promising life was cut short. Around 11:45 p.m., Durham police officers were dispatched to a home in the 300 block of Gary Street, where they found Tyler suffering from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation began with a significant misstep. Hours after the shooting, police arrested a 51-year-old man, Kenneth Dewayne Cates, and charged him with murder based on an eyewitness identification. However, investigators quickly determined that Cates was not the person responsible.
They contacted the Durham County District Attorney's Office to have the charges dismissed, and Cates was released from jail within 24 hours of his arrest.
Days later, the investigation led to the arrest of Marcus Keith Anthony Woods, a 27-year-old non-sworn employee of the Durham Police Department. Woods, who worked as a procurement technician, knew Tyler, though authorities did not release a possible motive for the crime. He was charged with first-degree murder and breaking and entering.
The case saw another major development nearly three years later. In August 2025, a grand jury indicted a second suspect: Marcel Woods, the brother of Marcus Woods. Marcel Woods, of Greensboro, was arrested and also charged with first-degree murder and breaking and entering. Court documents revealed that Marcel Woods also knew Tyler. According to the indictment, authorities believe he broke into Tyler’s home with the intent to “terrorize or injure” him.
As of August 2025, both Marcus and Marcel Woods face active first-degree murder charges. The case is proceeding through litigation.
