On a cold February day in 2017, the life of 28-year-old Alfred Vine Jr., a Black male from Kansas City, Kansas, was tragically cut short. On February 7th, he and his 45-year-old cousin, James Christopher III, were discovered inside a house in the 400 block of Greeley Avenue, both having been shot multiple times. A relative, concerned after not hearing from them, made the grim discovery. The police were called to the scene, and it soon became clear that this was a double homicide.
There were no signs of a forced entry into the home, leading investigators to believe the attack was not a random act of violence.
Alfred, known to his loved ones as "A.J." or "Cheesy" because of his ever-present big smile, was a doting father to two young daughters, who were just two years old and nine months old at the time of his death. His family described him as a good-hearted man who was deeply loved. He had a passion for music and was a long-time drummer with the Gateway Highsteppers drill team. The pain of his loss was compounded by the fact that the family had already endured a similar tragedy four years earlier when Alfred's sister was killed by her husband in a murder-suicide.
In the wake of the killings, the family was left devastated and searching for answers. They remembered Alfred as a positive and outgoing person who was an inspiration to those around him. His cousin, James Christopher III, was a local rap artist known as "J Rock" who was known for mentoring younger musicians and his work with a youth football program. The community mourned the loss of two men who were described as pillars of their community.
Despite the initial investigation and pleas from the family for justice, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in the years following the double homicide. The case remains an unsolved crime. Law enforcement has asked for anyone with information to come forward, and a reward has been offered for tips leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person or persons responsible for the deaths of Alfred Vine Jr. and James Christopher III. The absence of closure has left a lasting wound for a family that has already experienced an overwhelming amount of grief.
