Gary E Cutchlow

Gary E. Cutchlow Sr. was a beloved grandfather and great-grandfather, a man who loved fishing, playing dominoes, and the simple joy of a family fish fry or barbecue. A self-employed construction worker, he was known by loved ones as the life of the party, a gregarious and family-oriented man. On the evening of April 4, 2016, the 60-year-old Black man was feeling better after a bout with the flu and decided to visit his daughter’s home in Kansas City, Missouri, for the first time in weeks. It was a visit filled with the laughter and warmth he cherished.

The gathering took place at a house in the 3200 block of South Benton Avenue, where Cutchlow spent the evening with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As the family enjoyed a cookout on the pleasant spring evening, he offered his grandchildren some advice, telling them to stay out of trouble and to follow their dreams. Around 6:30 p.m., as the evening was winding down, Cutchlow stepped out onto the front lawn to play with his 2- and 4-year-old great-grandchildren. He was preparing to leave, pausing on the porch to talk with a granddaughter, when the quiet was violently interrupted.

A gray car, speeding south on South Benton, drove past the home. A passenger leaned out of the window and unleashed a barrage of gunfire at the house. In the chaos, Cutchlow instinctively acted to shield the children near him. He was struck by the gunfire, as was a second person, a family friend in his 20s. The hail of bullets riddled the house, piercing windows and walls. Emergency services were called to the scene, and both victims were rushed to a nearby hospital. Cutchlow succumbed to his critical injuries and was pronounced dead. The second victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and was later released.

The Kansas City Police Department immediately began a homicide investigation. Sgt. Kari Thompson appealed to the public for assistance in solving the crime. "We need the community's help," she said. "We need everyone to work together and help us to stop the crime in our city." Despite the shooting occurring on a busy street before sunset, investigators received very few leads in the initial days.

In the wake of the tragedy, Cutchlow’s family was left to grapple with the senseless loss of a man they described as an innocent bystander. His daughter, Chiquita Wash, remembered her father’s loving nature and final heroic act. “His life was taken because he was trying to, he was saving the other people,” she said, expressing no doubt that he had saved the children’s lives. She mourned the future moments that were stolen from them. “Going fishing, having barbecues, having a fish fry. He was the life of the party. I’m going to miss all that,” Wash shared.

The family’s grief was compounded by the lack of answers. "This is a senseless, pointless crime,” Wash said. “I couldn't see why somebody would do that to him.” She made a public plea for anyone with information to come forward and help find those responsible for her father's death. “I want justice. I don't care who they are, how old they are, I want justice,” she declared. A vigil was planned for later that week to honor Cutchlow's memory. As of the latest reports, no arrests have been announced in the case, and the murder of Gary Cutchlow remains unsolved. Authorities continue to urge anyone with information to contact the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.