Gregory Dean Butts

Gregory Dean Butts, a 55-year-old Topeka, Kansas, man known for his work in lawn care and car mechanics, was a beloved stepfather. His life was violently cut short on the morning of September 29, 2022, in a tragedy that began in a quiet residential neighborhood and ended in a hail of gunfire in the city's downtown.

The violence erupted shortly after 9:30 a.m. inside a home in the 3500 block of SW Kerry Avenue. According to later court testimony, Eric D. Perkins, 33, of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, was at the home of his girlfriend, who was Gregory's stepdaughter. An argument broke out between Perkins and the woman over the contents of her cell phone. When Gregory arrived at the house, Perkins shot him. He then shot his girlfriend in the head, an injury she survived. As Gregory tried to flee, Perkins chased him outside and shot him again, killing him. Gregory was pronounced dead at the scene from a fatal gunshot wound. His stepdaughter, who had called 911 after the initial shooting, was then taken hostage by Perkins.

Topeka Police investigators quickly identified Perkins as the suspect, noting the relationship between him and the victims was domestic in nature. An officer spotted Perkins's vehicle in the Hi-Crest neighborhood, and a high-speed pursuit began. Perkins fled, leading officers on a chase that tore through the city and ended near the intersection of SW 6th Avenue and South Kansas Avenue downtown. There, Perkins began firing at the officers, who were joined by deputies from the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office.

The confrontation escalated into a shootout. During the exchange of gunfire, a Topeka police officer was struck. The officer was taken to a hospital for treatment and was later released. Perkins was also wounded in the gunfight and was apprehended by law enforcement. He was transported to a local hospital and was initially listed in critical condition.

Following his release from the hospital, Perkins was booked into the Shawnee County Jail on October 5, 2022. He faced a litany of charges, including first-degree murder for the death of Gregory Butts, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, and aggravated child endangerment. Records showed Perkins had a prior criminal history in Missouri, with convictions for second-degree assault and drug possession.

The case against Eric Perkins came to an unexpected end before it could proceed to trial. In June 2023, while still in custody at the Shawnee County Jail awaiting court proceedings, Perkins died. His death effectively closed the criminal case, as the primary suspect was deceased. A lawsuit was later filed against the city by another woman who was taken hostage by Perkins during his flight from the initial crime scene.

Gregory Butts was remembered as a victim of a senseless act of domestic violence. The shooting was one of several homicides in Topeka during a year that saw a slight increase in such crimes over the previous year. The case is now considered closed by law enforcement due to the death of the sole suspect.