Six months after the death of 19-year-old Tardrick “Trollie” Fowler Jr. at a motel party, family, friends and activists will gather outside Austin police headquarters on Wednesday to demand police reopen his case.
According to the family, Austin police say that a group of people were playing Russian roulette when Fowler died by suicide around 3 a.m. on June 8 at a Super 8 motel in Central Austin. But the family contends that those findings don’t square with hotel security video, witness statements and other information.
Fowler, a star football player at Smithville High School, was supposed to begin college at the University of Texas this year.
A written statement from Fowler’s family released late Tuesday said they and their supporters believe Fowler’s death was the result of foul play, followed by a botched investigation and, potentially, a cover up. His parents and loved ones, who now want an independent investigation, are pressing Austin police and other authorities to address inconsistencies.
Activist Quanell X will join Fowler’s parents, relatives and supporters for a Justice for Trollie news conference at noon on Wednesday, outside Austin police headquarters, 715 E. Eighth Street.
“He was the only African American at the gathering of 20 to 30 people and the only one who ended up dead,” Quanell said. “This is especially disturbing during a year of international uprisings in support of Black lives and in protest of police misconduct. A federal investigation is in order.”
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