In the early morning hours of May 20, 2007, a promising young man's life was tragically cut short in an act of senseless violence in Kansas City, Missouri. Twenty-one-year-old Christopher 'Chris' Bartholomew, a Caucasian male, was in the Westport entertainment district with friends. Known for his kindness and dependability, he was there to provide a safe ride home for a friend.
As the bars were closing, around 2:30 a.m.
at the intersection of 39th and Broadway, an argument erupted between two separate groups of men, escalating into a chaotic shootout. Bartholomew and his friends were not involved in the dispute but were caught in the deadly crossfire as multiple shots were fired. In a final act of selflessness, Bartholomew was attempting to pull someone to safety when he was struck by a stray bullet. Three other individuals sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the incident. Christopher Bartholomew was rushed to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.
The investigation into Bartholomew's death was immediately launched by the Kansas City Police Department. Detectives determined that he was an innocent bystander, a young man with aspirations of becoming a police officer, who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The shooting was believed to be gang-related, involving occupants of several vehicles. Investigators publicly identified a Dodge Charger whose occupants were identified, and sought information on three other vehicles: a 2003 Isuzu Rodeo, a 2007 Pontiac G6, and an unidentified brown car.
Despite the presence of numerous witnesses in the crowded area, the investigation has been hampered by a lack of cooperation. To this day, the case remains unsolved, and no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Christopher Bartholomew. His family has tirelessly worked to keep his memory alive and to seek justice for his untimely death. They have established a reward fund, which at one point reached over $50,000, for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. They also honor his memory through a scholarship fund for students pursuing a career in law enforcement, a path Christopher himself was eager to follow.
