On a late August evening in 2015, the campus of Savannah State University was shattered by violence that claimed the life of a promising young student. Christopher Starks, a 22-year-old junior from the metro Atlanta area, was shot and killed inside the university's student union. A standout athlete who had earned a football scholarship, Starks was known for his dedication in the classroom and his bright future.
The shooting, which occurred during an altercation, sent shockwaves through the college community and left a family searching for answers.
The investigation into Christopher's death was a long and arduous journey for his loved ones. For nearly three years, his family waited as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Savannah State University Police Department worked to identify a suspect. The breakthrough came in April 2018 when a Chatham County grand jury indicted Justin Devon Stephens on multiple charges, including felony murder. Stephens, who was not a student at the university, was arrested shortly after the indictment.
The legal proceedings that followed were fraught with delays and emotional turmoil for the Starks family. The first trial of Justin Devon Stephens, held in July 2019, ended in a mistrial after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. This outcome only prolonged the family's quest for justice and closure. Finally, in October 2021, the case came to an unexpected conclusion. Stephens entered into a plea agreement, pleading guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to 20 years, with three to be served in prison. However, with credit for the time he had already served since his 2018 arrest, Stephens was able to avoid further incarceration and was sentenced to probation.
The resolution of the criminal case was a deep disappointment for Christopher's family, who felt the sentence did not reflect the gravity of their loss. In addition to the criminal proceedings, the Starks family also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. The lawsuit alleged that Savannah State University had failed to provide adequate security on campus, particularly in the student union where the fatal shooting occurred. They argued that the university was aware of previous instances of crime on campus and that their son's death could have been prevented with proper safety measures in place.
