30th Tacoma Homicide of 2023: Christian 'Big Chris' Cherry
Christian Cherry was called ‘Big Chris’ and at 6’ 8” you might think it’s simply because Big Chris was big. But the thing about big Chris is that it was all big. Big compassion, big love, big empathy, big volunteering, big activism, and a big, big laugh. I’m talking about a laugh you could hear from the other room.
Originally from New York, Big Chris made Tacoma his home and became an active part of Tacoma’s community. Even in New York, he’d been advocating for young people as a teen. So it’s no surprise he found opportunities to connect with young people here in Tacoma. He had that ability to easily talk and relate to people younger than him. It was one of his talents.
At just 24 years of age, Big Chris was active in multiple youth programs including Push For Dreams where he enjoyed connecting with youth just a few years younger than him.
Big Chris saw the potential in young people and in Tacoma’s community. He was one of many voices speaking out against the gun violence in this city. It’s people exactly like Big Chris that make this city a better place.
He was a mentor and role model for kids. There are few better ways to help the future.
He also loved photography and was setting up a photography business.
In every testimonial I read about Big Chris I noticed two things again and again. One was his innate sense of right and wrong. The other was his intention to get involved.
Police detectives said they believe Big Chris was trying to stop a crime in the early morning hours of December 14, 2023, when his vehicle was on South 19th and State Street. It had been severely vandalized. A witness reports seeing a light-colored sedan with as many as four people in it driving away shortly after hearing multiple gunshots. Tacoma Police arrived on the scene just after 3:30am. Big Chris Cherry was found in the street with gunshot wounds.
Big Chris was transported to the hospital where he fought for his life in critical condition before succumbing to his wounds on December 26th become Tacoma’s 30th Tacoma homicide of 2023. Like any homicide, Chris’s family was not expecting this and so has set up a GoFundMe campaign to offset the financial difficulty this tragedy has caused them.
Though it has been over a year since someone murdered Big Chris, his murder remains unsolved. His family and friends remain without the closure the solving the case would give them. If you have any information on the murder of Big Chris, please don’t hesitate to contact the Tacoma Police Department at (253) 591-5959 or Pierce County Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Big Chris Cherry lived a lot of his life out loud, but I can’t say that I ever met him. This is why we rely on friends and family of Big Chris to help by sharing thoughts and memories of the man in the comment section.