D.C. train stabbing victim’s death is ‘an absolute tragedy’

Palak Gosar waited eagerly for the Red Line Metro train to arrive so he could finally head to Philadelphia for July Fourth weekend.

The train shuttling his best friend there was a little late, so the Texan checked online and saw there was a delay.

“The D.C. Metro system is not the most reliable system,” said Gosar, a Houston native who works in Washington for a Fort Worth congressman. “We assumed he got caught in the delay.”

Hours later, after asking whether passengers were stuck inside the tunnel, Gosar learned the heartbreaking reason the train was late: His friend Kevin Sutherland had been beaten and stabbed dozens of times until he lay on the train floor, dying.

“They took us to the police station to tell us,” Gosar said, his voice shaky. “It was the most terrifying few hours of my life.”

Sutherland’s story — he was stabbed to death, struggling and crying out for help as other passengers watched — has traveled the globe.

The 24-year-old was remembered last week for a pure heart and a clear desire to make the world a better place.

“Kevin’s life’s work was to fight prejudice of any kind, to fight poverty, to fight for equality, to fight for justice, to fight for a better environment and simply to fight for a more perfect union,” his father, Douglas Sutherland, said during the eulogy.

Sutherland, a Connecticut native, was remembered as a man who loved America, politics, photography and computers.

‘An absolute tragedy’

Sutherland, who worked in behalf of Texas Democrats even though he visited the state only once, was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It was supposed to be a short train ride so Sutherland could meet up with friends. But a man boarded and allegedly tried to steal Sutherland’s cellphone.

Sutherland struggled and cried out for help as the attacker hit and stabbed him. The attacker stomped him, kicked his head — and threw the cellphone at his lifeless body — before moving on to rob other passengers, according to police, court and witness reports.

The Metro Transit Police put out a statement that they “do not advise people to intervene or confront suspects.” They do, however, suggest that people call the police.

After a manhunt, Jasper Spires, 18, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He is believed to have been high on synthetic drugs at the time of the attack.

“Our hearts are absolutely broken,” said Democratic consultant Lisa Turner, wife of state Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie. “He was so caring and so kind and had his whole future in front of him.”

Texas ties

Now friends and relatives are left mourning Sutherland. The former intern for U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., had worked for Texan and Democratic strategist Matt Angle in the Lone Star Project’s Washington office from the time he graduated from American University in 2013 through the 2014 elections.

Sutherland helped update the website and upgrade the online and graphic abilities of the group, which works to get more Democrats elected in Texas.

“Kevin was a very talented and capable young man with a quiet, gentle nature,” Angle said. “His death is truly heartbreaking and an absolute tragedy.”

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, said he often had a chance to talk to Sutherland when meeting with Angle in Washington.

“He was a very low-key guy, very quiet, but just a really good guy,” Veasey said. “He was very nice, very respectful and he always worked really hard.”

Sutherland believed in his work at the Lone Star Project, said Gosar, a legislative correspondent and aide for Veasey.

“He was a really kind, very gentle person, and he honestly believed in the Texas progressive cause,” he said. “He wasn’t from Texas, but he was ready and willing to help.”

Most recently, Sutherland worked for New Blue Interactive, helping Democratic congressional members reach out to constituents.

Yankees fan

Sutherland, an only child to Theresa and Doug Sutherland, was living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, inherited from his father, which affects peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. His parents said the disease hadn’t significantly affected their son yet.

People often thought Sutherland was shy, Gosar said, but he wasn’t.

“He was really quiet because he was content not being the center of attention,” said Gosar, Sutherland’s friend for about six years. “He would walk into a room and be content sitting in the back and watching what was going on.

“He was always willing to help,” Gosar said. “I don’t think I ever heard him say ‘no’ to anyone.”

The two had common interests, especially country music and baseball, although Sutherland rooted for the New York Yankees and Gosar cheered for his hometown team, the Houston Astros.

Texas two-stepping

Sutherland made his one trip to Texas this year. He and Gosar, also an American University graduate, traveled to Arlington for the Academy of Country Music’s 50th annual awards show.

Sutherland was such a country fan that he dressed up as Brad Paisley last Halloween, complete with the goatee and the cowboy hat.

“He didn’t know country music before about two years ago,” Gosar said. “He started listening and he loved it.”

So they made their way to Texas in April to attend ACM concerts at Globe Life Park and the awards ceremony at AT&T Stadium.

But they had bad seats at the awards show.

“We started out in really high-up seats in the Cowboys’ stadium. We couldn’t see a thing,” Gosar said. “We complained and we ended up getting tickets on the field, and we even got to go through the locker room tunnels.

“It was absolutely amazing,” he said. “[Kevin] definitely liked Texas after that.”

This story was originally published July 18, 2015 at 4:34 PM with the headline "D.C. train stabbing victim’s death is ‘an absolute tragedy’."