Kansas City, Kan., family again mourns slain kin after cousins are found dead

Alfred Vine Jr. and other members of his family were devastated four years ago when he lost his sister to gun violence.

Now those family members are grieving the death of Vine, who like his sister was killed by gunfire.

Vine, 28, and his cousin, James Christopher III, 45, were found shot to death Tuesday inside Christopher’s house in the 400 block of Greeley Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.

Both men were shot multiple times, police said.

A relative made the discovery after going to the house to check on them, police said.

Family members said the men were cousins by marriage.

Christopher was a rap artist who performed under the name J Rock, according to his Facebook page.

He was known for mentoring and encouraging younger rappers, according to Tarence Maddox, a former Unified Government commissioner in Wyandotte County.

He also worked with young people in a youth football program, Maddox said.

“James ‘J Rock’ Christopher was a man who would give you the shirt off his back,” Maddox said. “He was loved by everybody who knew him.”

In 2012, Vine, who was known as A.J., was interviewed by The Star after his sister was fatally shot in Kansas City.

Alyshia Alexander was killed by her husband, who then killed himself. The couple’s three young sons witnessed the crime.

“We had a real bond,” Vine he said of his sister in the interview. “It hit me really hard.”

On Wednesday, Vine’s aunt, Kenya Mitchell, said, “Our whole little family is torn apart.”

She described Vine as a doting father of 2-year-old and 9-month-old daughters. He always seemed to be smiling.

“His nickname was ‘Cheesy’ because he had this big cheesy smile,” she said.

He was a longtime drummer with the Gateway Highsteppers drill team.

“He was a very good-hearted guy,” Mitchell said. “He didn’t deserve this.”

This story was originally published February 8, 2017 at 8:55 AM with the headline "Kansas City, Kan., family again mourns slain kin after cousins are found dead."