Oak Park jeweler with celebrity client list shot dead after leaving store

The owner of an Oak Park jewelry store was shot dead inside his car Wednesday afternoon shortly after leaving his store on Greenfield Road.

The incident happened about 12:30 p.m. when Daniel Hutchinson, 47, was shot multiple times, according to police. Hutchinson, police said, had an extensive list of celebrity clients and sold the Cartier sunglasses, known as "Buffs," that were gifted to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Hutchinson's longtime friend Arkeisha Knight, better known as Detroit rapper Kash Doll, said she was stunned by the news.

"I feel like when anybody's life is taken, it's just awful,” Knight said. “This is just awful."

Hutch's Jewelry store has been known since the 1990s for selling high-end pieces, from chains to watches and glasses.

In 2020, during the pandemic, the store sold a pair of Cartier C Décor marbled white buffalo horn sunglasses, affectionately known to Detroiters as Buffs, to Detroit rapper GMac Cash, self-proclaimed "king of parody rap." He, in turn, gifted them to Whitmer.

Police said the suspect fled the scene. Officers performed CPR on the victim and he was taken to a local hospital where he died, according to a news release.

Neighbors said they could hear the gunshots.

Hutch’s Jewelry is a family-owned business that used to be located in Northland Center.

Its client list includes rappers Rick Ross, Jacquees and Sada Baby, boxer Adrien Broner and many other local entertainers.

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After Wednesday's shooting, rapper Payroll Giovanni posted to his Instagram account a picture of the song by Doughboy Cashout: Hutch Did Da Chain, with the caption: “We took pride in being youngins walking around with Hutch chains on 💎 RIP HUTCH."

The song, released in 2009, paid homage to Hutchinson.

Oak Park police ask anyone with information to call 248-691-7511 or 248-691-7513.

Free Press reporters Liliana Webb and Chandra Fleming contributed to this report.

Jasmin Barmore is born and raised in the city of Detroit. She covers the city's neighborhoods and communities using her passion as her drive to give the voiceless a voice. You can reach her at jmbarmore@freepress.com or by sending her a message on Instagram or Twitter at @bjasminmare.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Daniel Hutchinson, owner of Oak Park's Hutch's Jewelry, fatally shot