Trevor Armstrong was in junior high when he became disabled and had to rely on a wheelchair to get around, but he didn't let that dampen his spirit.
"He wouldn't have hurt a fly," his aunt Samantha Woodson said. "Why did it have to result into a murder? With his disability, he couldn't have hurt you anyways. I want to understand why. He couldn't run from whoever was there."
Not only was the single father not the kind of person who would typically fall victim to crime, but he didn't drive. But somehow he ended up more than 20 miles from his home and shot to death in the back country of Williamson County.
So that begs the question: How did a man who depended on a wheelchair and didn't drive end up dead so far from home?
If anyone has any information about Trevor and what led to the shooting, call Williamson County Sheriff's Detective Melissa Colvin at 615-790-5554 extension 3238 or Crime Stoppers at 615-794-4000 and remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information that leads to an arrest in this case.
The Victim
Trevor "Smiley" RaShad Armstrong (pictured above with his daughter) was only 22 years old when he was killed.
“He always had that smile, and made sure he brought that smile to everyone around him,” Samantha Woodson said.
A resident of Columbia, Trevor became disabled in junior high and depended on a wheelchair and cane to get around. He did not drive.
Trevor was survived by a large family that included his parents Jamie Dawayne Armstrong and Tonya Nicole Hunt, as well as his daughter Tinslee Rai'el Armstrong, for whom he was the primary caregiver, and brother Trenton Armstrong.
According to his obituary, Trevor enjoyed spending time outside riding his bike, four wheeling, fishing and making bonfires; and inside listening to music, playing video games and cheering on the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The Crime
Trevor Armstrong was found dead in the early hours of Aug. 17, 2017, on a long dirt driveway of a home on Sugar Ridge Road outside of Spring Hill. Family members told WKRN he had been shot at least five times.
There were few clues released after his death.
“Nobody deserves to die like this and be dumped like an abandon animal,” JD Jones told WKRN. While Jones had no connection to the family, he is a deacon at Calvary Baptist Church, which is located near where Trevor was discovered.
The Investigation
Because the crime scene was located on the Williamson-Maury county line, Maury County deputies responded first and then handed the case over to Williamson County.
After a week, the Williamson County Sheriff's Office admitted they had no suspects and no motive in Trevor's death. Normally investigators look to close friends and family but Trevor was well-liked with no criminal history.
"There hasn't been any movement forward," his aunt Samantha Woodson said at a press conference in February 2018. "We've been taking every day one day at a time. Two plus two isn't equaling four in this equation. It's not even real, and I can't fathom in my head how something like this can happen. He didn't live the type of lifestyle this would happen."
After six months, the Sheriff's Office asked the public for help in tracing Trevor's last steps.
"It's not normal," WCSO Detective Melissa Colvin said. "No one can heal if I am texting with them every two weeks asking more questions. That's why we are asking for help."
Since then, no movement has been made in the case and WCSO is still looking for information in the case.