Raytown police identify man found shot to death

Patterson Jennings could cook like a gourmet chef and was equally handy with a hammer and a paintbrush.

Early Tuesday, the 34-year-old Raytown resident was found sprawled on the pavement in the 6900 block of Hunter Street in Raytown. He had been fatally shot, police said.

Family members say they are puzzled as to why.

“He was basically a good kid,” said his father, Douglas Jennings. “Everybody liked him.”

Jennings said he last saw his son Saturday evening. When the two had dinner, nothing unusual emerged during their conversation to suggest Jennings’ life was in danger.

Patterson Jennings was not married and did not have children. A physical disability prevented him from working, but his father said Jennings repaired computers, televisions and other electronics and performed house maintenance.

“He did a lot of good things for a lot of people,” said Douglas Jennings. “He had a lot of plans, but I think with him being handicapped he couldn’t do all of the things that he wanted to do.”

Douglas Jennings said his son enjoyed spending time with family and friends. A middle child, he had a brother and sister. Now the family is taking refuge in their religious faith to help them deal with their loss, his father said.

“Things weren’t supposed to happen this way, but it has,” Douglas Jennings said. “I still think I am going to wake up from all of this, but I know that he is gone.”

Police ask anyone with information to call the Tips Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

This story was originally published August 27, 2014 at 3:17 PM with the headline "Raytown police identify man found shot to death."