Family and loved ones gather to march in honor of Ava Christopher

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The fight for answers continues after Ava Christopher was killed in a hit-and-run at the intersection of Cooper and Central.

Family and friends held a candlelight vigil and marched in the area where she was killed.

Family and friends of Ava Christopher marched in the name of justice in hopes that the people responsible for her death are put behind bars.

“She was killed right over here in a hit-and-run accident,” said Angela Christopher, Ava’s mother.

October 25 marks exactly 3 months ago when Ava was driving through the intersection of Cooper and Central Ave when a car ran a red light, killing Ava. The people that hit Ava’s car walked away from the scene.

“I would like to face those people in court. I would like them to be before a judge and I’d like an opportunity to tell them what I think because they walked away and they get to live their life and my baby girl had everything stolen from her and us too,” said Angela.

One of Ava’s best friends says waking up every day knowing Ava is not here hurts.

“There is no way to fix it, there is no way to bring her back, there is nothing we can do about that but just some sort of closure or justice is the most that can be done,” said MJ Learned, Ava’s friend.

Angela said there are no words of comfort after losing a child.

“We just have to lean on each other. Everybody always says what they can do to help and there isn’t anything anybody can do. It’s just broken,” said Angela.

Family and friends marching in the direction of the suspects fled that night in the Cooper-Young area. Their goal is to bring awareness of her tragic death in hopes that someone saw something.

Angela said she and her husband would never stop fighting for justice for Ava.

“Somebody picked them{suspects} up that night, somebody saw their injuries, somebody lives with them, somebody knows. Please, do the right thing and come forward,” said Angela.

With the help of family and friends, the reward for information leading to an arrest is now $20,000 — double the previous reward amount.

Christopher’s friends and coworkers at the Binghampton ice cream shop Sugar Ghost said they’re devastated and will remember her as a beautiful presence who was undoubtedly destined for an amazing future.

She was also a talented member of the Mazi-Soprano/Alto Choir at the UofM’s Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music.

Those who wish to attend Wednesday’s vigil are asked to gather outside Aldo’s Pizza at 752 South Cooper Street at 5 p.m.

By 5:30, a two-mile walk will commence, ending with a candlelight vigil outside Aldo’s.

The entire event is projected to take two hours.

Click here to sign up for our newsletter!

Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please include the headline.

Copyright 2023 WMC. All rights reserved.