Family: $1,000 reward for Minn. boy's killer not enough

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

Terrell Mayes Jr., inset, and the Minneapolis house where he was killed by a stray bullet on Monday, Dec. 26, 2011

/ CBS/WCCO Minnesota

(CBS) MINNEAPOLIS - Three-year-old Terrell Mayes, Jr. was inside his house when a stray bullet came through the wall and hit him in the head. Nearly two weeks after the boy's death, his killer remains on the loose, prompting growing calls to boost the $1,000 reward money in the northeast Minneapolis case.

"A thousand dollars for a 3-year-old's life. Is that all my grandchild was worth is a thousand dollars? When I found out that's all, it was a hurt to me," Jacqueline Mayes, Terrell's grandmother, said to CBS Minnesota.

Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization run by volunteers, and the money used for rewards is donated.

All of the group's rewards begin with $1,000. If there is an increase, it's because people donate money.

Mayes told CBS Minnesota she can feel the outrage in the community behind her grandson's murder, and hopes more money will entice someone to tell police what they know.

Crime Stoppers says calls from the community prompted them to try and get others involved in raising funds for the reward.

"Mad Dads in Minneapolis contacted us and said we're getting calls saying 'how can we raise that reward,' so they wanted us to be a partner with them to essentially put forth this effort," said Bob Dennistoun of Crime Stoppers.

"Whatever funds come in will be added to that thousand dollars and our offer will then be up to whatever that dollar amount may be," Dennistoun said.

If you have information about the Terrell Mayes, Jr. case, police ask you to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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