On December 11, 2022, 20-year-old Matthew Gatson Jr. was driving through Kansas City, Missouri, accompanied by his fiancé, Rain Spriggs. The couple had spent the Sunday afternoon visiting a gun range and running errands for the upcoming holidays. As they traveled near the intersection of 63rd Street and 71 Highway, Gatson noticed a specific SUV trailing them.
He had reportedly warned Spriggs to 'watch out for' this particular vehicle in the past, sensing a potential threat, though the exact nature of the danger remains unclear.
As the couple continued their route, the SUV—described in reports as either gray or blue—pulled up alongside their car. The occupants of the SUV opened fire, unleashing a barrage of bullets into Gatson’s vehicle. Gatson was struck multiple times, including gunshot wounds to the head. Spriggs, who was driving at the time, was also hit by the gunfire. Despite the chaotic and violent attack, she managed to drive them to Research Medical Center in a desperate bid to save their lives.
Medical personnel at the hospital were unable to save Gatson, and he succumbed to his injuries that same afternoon. Spriggs survived the assault but was left with a bullet lodged in her body, which doctors determined was too risky to remove due to the potential for paralysis. She suffered from limited mobility and pain in her arm following the incident. In the days leading up to the shooting, Spriggs had shared a video of the couple on social media, which investigators and family members later scrutinized for any connection to the attackers.
As of early 2024, the investigation into Matthew Gatson’s murder remained open and unsolved. While law enforcement officers successfully located and recovered the suspect vehicle for evidence processing, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. Detectives have not released information regarding a specific gunman or a confirmed motive. Gatson’s family, including his mother Alicia Gatson, has publicly appealed to the community for witnesses to come forward, expressing their grief and determination to find justice for the young father and aspiring artist.
