The family of Kenny Cherry Jr., also known as Kenny “Clutch”, an aspiring rap artist, is angry about the way he has been portrayed following his very public murder on the Las Vegas Strip.
Cherry was driving a Maserati early Thursday morning when he was shot by from someone in a Range Rover. The shooting ended up in a fiery crash, also claiming the lives of a cab driver and passenger.
Since Cherry’s death, his family flew in from Oakland to Las Vegas, and his father Ken Cherry Sr. says he is infuriated by the way his son’s image has been tarnished on social media and news reports.
“My son was a victim just like those two people in that taxi, okay?” Cherry Sr. said.
Cherry said his it’s just part of his son’s persona in the music industry, that’s it.
“There's nothing else. Leave him alone. That’s what you do. Leave him alone, ‘cause he was just like any of y'all, a 27 year old kid out here who have a dad and a mom who feels for him,” Cherry Sr. said.
He was very emotional as he addressed several members of the Las Vegas news media.
“To hear about your child being shot and finally passing away is like somebody just took my heart and snatched it out of my chest,” Cherry Sr. said.
Now he will be raising his son’s kids, his grandchildren: three little ones ages two and under. And while that’s a hard reality to absorb, he’s happy that he has them as part of his son.
For now he doesn't want people to forget his son Kenny was murdered.
“They are going to get these guys who did that. Okay? Just for the record, they are going to get those guys who did that, just for the record,” Cherry Sr. said.
Now the family grieves and plans a funeral in Northern California.
“I love my son, I love my son and anybody would tell you I love my son and I’m missing my son,” Cherry Sr. said.
The Cherry family has committed to making a donation to the families of the other victims who died in the crash on the Strip.
