In the early morning hours of December 29, 2016, a dispute that began inside a Baton Rouge bar tragically escalated, ending the life of 32-year-old Tharius Cutno. The male victim, known to many as 'T-Cutt the DJ,' was a self-employed DJ with a passion for music, often described as quiet and quick to share a smile.
The fatal encounter unfolded at The Duck Off Bar on North Foster Drive. An altercation involving Cutno and another man occurred inside the establishment.
Later, in the parking lot around 1:40 a.m., as the situation seemed to be calming down, a man approached Cutno and his companion. Security footage captured a man in a white tank top and blue jeans opening fire on them. Cutno was fatally wounded by a gunshot to the head and was found dead at the scene. The second man with him sustained gunshot wounds to his arm and hand but survived.
Following an investigation, Baton Rouge Police identified Kendrick Earl Griffin, 30, as the suspected shooter. According to a witness, after the initial altercation, Griffin was seen motioning for a gun. Just as Cutno and the other victim were about to leave, the gunman pointed a handgun at Cutno's head and fired. The witness confirmed that the clothing worn by the shooter matched what Griffin had been wearing that night.
In February 2017, Kendrick Earl Griffin was arrested and charged with first-degree murder for the death of Tharius Cutno and attempted first-degree murder for the injuring of the second victim. He was subsequently booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
