Missouri Police Hunt Killer of College Student

Obtained by ABC News(ST. LOUIS) — Police are searching for the killers of a college sophomore in Missouri whose family said he was shot to death while trying to protect a friend.

Bobby Christman, 19, was shot during a robbery in St. Louis. Christman, his brother Sean, 17, and a college friend identified as Jenn were parked near a nightclub after midnight Sunday morning, police said. A car pulled beside their vehicle. A man carrying a handgun opened one of the car’s rear doors and a struggle ensued when the man grabbed the friend’s purse, police added.

Christman said something to set the gunman off, police said, causing the suspect to fire.

Christman, a former high school wrestler and rugby player, was studying at Southeast Missouri State University and wanted to be a soldier.

Jenn, who remained shaken up following the shooting, released a statement to ABC News in which she called Christman her “guardian angel.”

“I love him so much for everything he did for me and Sean,” she said in the statement.

She would not specify what Christman did that night, but added, “Bobby would never let anyone hurt me or his little brother Sean.”

Relatives also reflected on Christman’s character following the fatal incident.

“Bobby is the bravest. He has the most courage. He’s the hero,” said his father, Bob Christman II.

The suspects in the robbery attempt were driving an allegedly carjacked silver 2004 Chrysler Sebring that was later abandoned, police said. That car is being studied for clues, St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson said.

“They abandoned that vehicle and ran,” Dotson said. “And because the officers were unfamiliar with the area, they lost the suspects, but we do have the vehicle.”

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