On 12/31/2021 at approximately 11:07 pm Bates County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call in reference to a person being shot across the street from 1326 NW Elm Street in Amsterdam Missouri. Bates County Deputies and Troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol were dispatched.
Upon arrival at the location, they found one male subject suffering from a gunshot wound to the face laying on the ground. The victim was initially breathing but unconscious. A short time after law enforcement arrived the victim stopped breathing and CPR was initiated by first responders and law enforcement.
The victim, identified as Michael R Strup, was transported by Bates County EMS to St. Luke’s Trauma Center on the Plaza.
A witness identified the shooting suspect as Christopher E Cutshaw (DOB 10/29/1995) of Amsterdam, Missouri. Additional Bates County deputies were called out to help search for Cutshaw who fled the area on foot.
Working with the community to track the last known locations of Cutshaw, Bates County deputies were able to track his path and located Cutshaw hiding in the garage of a family member approximately 2 miles from the shooting incident. Cutshaw was taken into custody without incident.
On 1/1/2022 the Bates County Prosecutor Hugh Jenkins filed 1st degree assault charges along with armed criminal action and bond was set at $500,000.00 cash only.
On 1/2/2022, the Bates County Coroner was advised that Michael Strup had passed away from the injuries suffered from the shooting. The Bates County Sheriff’s Office is treating this as an intentional homicide. Once the investigation is complete it will be submitted to the Prosecutor for upgraded charges on Cutshaw.
The Bates County Sheriff’s Office would like to Thank the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Amsterdam First Responders for their assistance.
During the investigation it was determined that while Cutshaw was fleeing on foot he entered the Amsterdam bar. The Bates County Sheriff’s Office is asking that if you were in the bar at the time, he ran through please contact the Bates County Sheriff’s Office to speak with a detective.
If you are a citizen who encountered Cutshaw on the street or if you have home video footage, please contact the Bates County Sheriff’s Office to speak to a deputy. Bates County Deputies and Detectives will be in the Amsterdam area to identify potential witnesses on this case. If you have any information, please contact us at 660-679-3232.
