Tyrone Delano Gilliam Jr. was born on August 29, 1966, in the United States. Little is publicly known about his early life, education, or family background. Prior to his arrest for murder, he had already been involved in criminal activity and had a troubled background marked by substance abuse. At the time of the crime, he was using drugs and alcohol heavily and running with criminal associates, including Kelvin and Tony Drummond. 

On the evening of December 2, 1988, 21-year-old Christine J. Doerfler left her home in Baltimore to visit her sister in Baltimore County. As she parked her car, Gilliam and Tony Drummond forced their way into her vehicle and compelled her to drive to various locations, searching for an ATM. Eventually, they stopped in a secluded area where Gilliam shot Doerfler in the head with a sawed-off shotgun, killing her.

Three days later, on December 5, 1988, Gilliam and the Drummond brothers were arrested after attempting to rob a convenience store. Police found the murder weapon in Gilliam's car. During interrogation, Gilliam confessed to the murder.

Gilliam was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, robbery with a deadly weapon, and use of a handgun during a crime of violence. He was sentenced to death on October 31, 1989. Tony Drummond received a life sentence without parole, while Kelvin Drummond, who testified against Gilliam, received a life sentence with the possibility of parole.

Gilliam's appeals were denied at both state and federal levels. He converted to Islam while on death row, adopting the name Tyrone X. Gilliam. Despite last-minute appeals and a plea for clemency from Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, Maryland Governor Parris Glendening denied clemency.

On November 16, 1998, Gilliam was executed by lethal injection at the Maryland State Penitentiary. His final words were, "Allah, forgive them for what they do."