Two suspects named in Christman murder case

Two suspects in the murder of Bobby Christman have been arrested.

Christman, a Southeast student who was murdered on Jan. 11, was a sophomore public relations major and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

According to a report by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the two men jailed for a number of charges in St. Clair County have been connected with the murder of Christman in St. Louis. Christman was shot during an attempted robbery around 12:45 a.m. while in a parked car with his brother and girlfriend near the Washington Avenue entertainment district. Read our original coverage from our Jan. 21 issue here.

Aza K. Thompson, 18, was arrested on Jan. 13 and charged with various Illinois felony offenses including armed violence, unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle and possession with intent to sell cocaine.

Tony Ross, 19, was arrested over the weekend and charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a motor vehicle and attempted first-degree murder for shooting at a police officer during a shootout that happened on Jan. 11.

Thompson and Ross are suspected to be the men who were involved in a gunfire exchange with police in the Washington Park area the evening after Christman was shot. No officers were hit, and the men abandoned their vehicle after a short car chase and fled.

As reported in the Post-Dispatch, State's Attorney Brendan Kelly announced Monday evening that he filed multiple charges against the men suspected in connection with the homicide.

The police are still searching for a third suspect involved with the shootout. The homicide investigation is still ongoing.