Christopher Rea was 21 when he was found fatally shot in the pre-dawn hours of Christmas Eve 2020 in the Patch neighborhood of south St. Louis. His vehicle had mounted the sidewalk on South Broadway and come to rest against a fence. Rea was a father of three who hoped to open a tattoo parlor or an antique shop and was remembered by family as goofy, fun-loving and kind-hearted.

The investigation produced few leads for a long time, leaving family members, including the mother of his youngest child, Destiny Barnett, publicly urging anyone with information to come forward. A later development brought a turning point: Myles Overby was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with Rea’s death, moving the case into the criminal justice process.

If anyone knew Christopher, saw him in the Patch area that night, or has information about what happened, please share what you know with investigators.