In the late summer of 2013, the life of a young African-American man, 17-year-old Christopher Jovan Richard, was tragically cut short in Las Vegas, Nevada. On August 23, a day that began like any other, ended in sorrow for his family and friends. Christopher, a son and a father himself, was remembered for his love of singing and writing his own music, and for the time he cherished spending with his mother.
His passing left a void in the lives of those who knew and loved him.
The circumstances of Christopher's death were not a mystery for long. Investigators soon focused their attention on someone he knew, a 19-year-old he considered a friend. In a heartbreaking turn of events, this individual was identified as the primary suspect in the case. The investigation revealed a senseless motive for the violent act, suggesting that the allure of a popular smartphone was enough to turn a friendship deadly.
A grand jury indicted the 19-year-old suspect, Ashton Varner, on charges of murder with the use of a deadly weapon and robbery with the use of a deadly weapon. Prosecutors laid out a chilling narrative, alleging that Varner went to Christopher's home with the intent to rob him. There, for the sake of an iPhone, he allegedly fired a single shot from a revolver into the back of Christopher's head. Following the indictment, Varner was ordered to be held without bail as he awaited trial for the death of his young friend.
