Father speaks out after 14-year-old allegedly shot and killed by his mother

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – A father is speaking out after his son was found dead of a gunshot wound police believe was caused by his mother.

Claude Hodge’s mom and dad, no longer together, shared 50-50 custody of their son, switching each week, according to his dad, Claude Hodges Sr.

Hodges Sr. says he knew something was off Sunday afternoon when he and his wife were on their way to pick up Claude for the week.

They arrived at the gas station at 5 p.m., their scheduled weekly pickup and drop-off time. Claude and his mom never showed up. Hodges texted and called her, but she never responded.

That’s when Hodges called the police to ask them to check on his son.

According to him, officers initially thought Claude was a runaway, but he insisted his son would be found at his mother’s home. He gave them the address and waited to hear back.

At 3:30 a.m., police came to his door and told him his son was dead.

“As a father, there’s something in us, at least as good fathers, that you wanna protect yours,” Hodges said. “Especially when he is your prince.”

Claude was a freshman at Northwest High School. His dad said he was a great student. He was also an athlete. He’d just picked up wrestling this year and was already on the varsity team.

His family says he was kind, outgoing, and loved people and kids.

According to Hodges, Claude loved the pond across from his house.

“We’d just walk around and catch fish, and that’s what I think about,” Hodges said. “That’s what I look at every day now. I set out, and I just think about us on these banks.”

Claude was everything Hodges would want in a son, he said.

“He was everything that you would want in a son and as a young man, again destined for greatness,” Hodges said.

Claude was making plans to share that greatness with his father in the future they were supposed to spend together.

“What kid tells their dad they’re gonna buy a plot of land and, ‘We’re gonna build houses on it, dad, so I can take care of you, and I’ll get you your own area, dad, so you can have your own spot and we’re gonna put fishing holes daddy so we can go fishing,'” Hodges said.

Hodges said his son was the light of his world.

“It just seemed he could go into a room that was gloomy, and he could smile, and it is as bright as the sun is on us today,” Hodges said. “You know, people talk about different things you remember. I think that’s something that they’ll remember the most is his smile.”