Remembering Chris Wells: The ‘Teddy Bear’ and ‘warrior’ of his KC neighborhood
As Kansas City police continue investigating a Monday shooting where a father of four was killed in the Northland, family and friends prepare to say goodbye to Chris Wells.
He died Monday morning, shot multiple times, witnesses say, by a neighbor who many in the tight-knit neighborhood had a years-long feud with.
Neighbor Jeffrey Traviss King was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting. He is currently being held on a $5 million bond.
Wells’ funeral is scheduled for Tuesday morning at Northland Cathedral, 101 NW 99th Street, Kansas City, with visitation Monday evening.
His obituary said Wells leaves behind “a legacy of love, loyalty and quiet strength.”
“Christopher Cole Wells will be remembered as a protector, a friend, a devoted husband and father, and a man whose love ran deep and true,” his obituary said. “His impact lives on in the countless lives he touched and the family he loved so fiercely.”
Wells’ death shocked the Kansas City community and his Northland neighborhood where he stood out as someone who’d stop and talk to neighbors, offer to help clean up after a garage sale and dedicate his time and attention to his family.
“This guy was a really lovable guy,” said Mike Galetti, a neighbor of Wells and his family. “He was like a Teddy Bear guy, was always real positive, would do anything for you. And of course, you would do anything for him, you know, with that attitude.”
Anyone who knew him, friends and neighbors say, understood what was most important to him.
“He was a devout family man,” Galetti said. “He was one of the only people I’ve ever met that his family meant everything to him.”
Whenever he was home, he said, he was “always with his wife and kids.”
“He took his little girl with him everywhere,” Galetti said. “He took the other girl to football games. I mean, he was just a happy, positive, go lucky guy.”
‘A very positive person’
Jim Lower who cut Wells’ hair from the time the Northland man was 14 until four years ago when the barber retired. In the chair, Wells would talk about his family and he worked hard to provide for them, Lower said.
“You never saw Chris wallow and you know, be poor me or nothing like that. Never,” said Lower. “He was one of those guys that, you know, if you’re having a bad day, shake it off, move on. It’ll get better.
“I’ve never seen Chris really mad. I’ve never seen Chris really upset.”
It’s why, he and others say, it’s so hard to hear about the problems he and his neighbors had with King.
Multiple neighbors described King as having caused issues in the neighborhood, saying King would frequently park multiple vehicles along the street, to the point where school buses could not drive through. One described King as holding the neighborhood hostage for years.
According to court records, police were aware of a long series of confrontations that escalated over some time between King and the neighbors in the area.
Neighbors told The Star that King broke a mirror off a vehicle owned by Wells.
“I’ve heard from others that this guy has been a real terror of the neighborhood,” Lower said. “In fact, some of them were afraid to even be seen on camera, because they thought, if he got freed up, he would, you know, have revenge or whatever.”
‘Our warrior here’
On Tuesday night, more than 100 people gathered in the 2500 block of NE 78th street for a candlelight vigil honoring Wells. The vigil was recorded live on Facebook, so family and friends who don’t live in the area could be a part.
Wells’ wife spoke as the couple’s children surrounded her.
“... He would do anything for me and our babies,” Kirsten Wells said to the grieving group. “My kids know, they all know, that their dad was the best thing that ever walked. As everybody said, this man would literally probably give you the shirt off of his back if it meant something that helped you.
“He would stand here and be like, ‘Who needs help with what?’ … I’m extremely thankful for everything that he has done.”
Stewart Wells, Chris’ cousin, also spoke.
“I hope that the neighbors can find some peace now in his sacrifice,” Wells said. “… If things are better off around here from now on, I know that would make Chris very happy.”
Others took turns talking about Wells, including a co-worker, his mother, a long-time family friend and neighbors, including Galetti, who told the crowd that his neighbor was a “good man” and “brave” and “strong.”
“I look back at him as our warrior here,” Galetti said. “... Thank you, Chris.”
This story was originally published January 17, 2026 at 10:49 AM.
