In the early hours of a Saturday morning in September 2018, the life of 29-year-old Kristopher Hicks was tragically cut short. A dedicated chef at a Chili's restaurant in DeWitt, New York, a suburb of Syracuse, Hicks was finishing his shift when a former co-worker entered the establishment with violent intent. The date was September 15th, and what began as a routine closing would end in a senseless double homicide.
Kristopher, known as a hardworking and determined man who cherished his
family, friends, and animals, was fatally shot during what authorities described as a robbery. He and the restaurant's manager, 37-year-old Stephen Gudknecht, were killed in the attack. The assailant, identified as William Wood Jr., a 32-year-old from Syracuse who had previously been employed at the same Chili's, fled the scene after stealing $875 from the restaurant.
The investigation quickly pointed to Wood as the primary suspect. His familiarity with the restaurant and its employees likely played a role in the tragic events that unfolded. Following the murders, law enforcement officials launched a search for Wood, who was considered armed and dangerous.
Wood was later apprehended and faced charges for the murders of Kristopher Hicks and Stephen Gudknecht. The loss of Kristopher, a 2007 graduate of Warwick Valley High School, was deeply felt by his loved ones. His family remembered him as a self-made man with a passion for cooking, a loyal employee of the Chili's 'family' for over a decade, and a lifelong Mets fan. His unexpected and violent death left a void in the lives of his parents, brother, girlfriend, and a wide circle of relatives and friends who recalled his smile and sense of humor with great sorrow.
