In the winter of 2015, a promising young life was tragically cut short in an act of senseless violence in downtown St. Louis. Robert 'Bobby' Christman, a 19-year-old male college student, was fatally shot on Sunday, January 11, 2015, during an attempted carjacking. The incident unfolded while he was sitting in a parked car near the City Museum with two other young people.
An armed assailant approached the vehicle and opened a passenger door, demanding a purse from one of the occupants.
When she resisted, Christman, who was in the front passenger seat, made a remark. The gunman then fired a single, fatal shot that struck Christman in the head. The suspect quickly fled the scene in a gray or silver sedan. Despite the proximity of police officers, the shooter initially escaped.
The investigation into the murder of Bobby Christman led authorities to a suspect named Christopher Grant. Following his arrest, Grant was charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and attempted robbery for his role in the fatal shooting. He ultimately pleaded guilty to these charges.
For his crimes, Christopher Grant was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison. In the wake of their devastating loss, Christman's family expressed their gratitude to the police and prosecutors for their work in bringing the person responsible for Bobby's death to justice. They also found a way to create a lasting legacy of hope from their tragedy; having registered as an organ donor at age 16, Bobby was able to save several lives through the donation of his organs.
