In a deeply saddening turn of events on December 29, 2019, Aaron Lee Crutcher, a 47-year-old Black man from Memphis, Tennessee, lost his life in a violent encounter within a home in the 3800 block of Bestway Drive, near the Memphis International Airport. The incident, which unfolded on a Sunday, cut short the life of a man known as a dedicated Crew Chief with the City of Memphis Waste Management System.
The circumstances of Crutcher's death led to the swift arrest of his own son, Damien
Crutcher. Police took the younger Crutcher into custody and charged him with first-degree murder in connection with his father's shooting. In the initial investigation, Damien Crutcher claimed that the shooting was a tragic accident that occurred while he and his father were wrestling over a handgun. However, this account was contradicted by witnesses at the scene, who asserted that Damien was in full control of the weapon during the altercation.
The news of Aaron Crutcher's untimely death and the subsequent arrest of his son sent shockwaves through their community. An obituary published in The Commercial Appeal remembered Aaron as a cherished companion to Judy A. Faulkner for over four decades and a loving father to his children. The notice painted a picture of a devoted family man who would be deeply missed.
Following his arrest, the legal process began for Damien Crutcher. Despite the initial charge of first-degree murder, further details regarding a trial, conviction, or sentencing have not been made publicly available in online sources. The narrative of this family tragedy, as it exists in the public record, culminates with the charge against Damien, leaving the final chapter of this painful story unresolved.
