Christopher Frye-Pleasant, 22, was fatally shot inside the 8th Street Restaurant in Soulard on January 26, 2026. Police responded to a shooting call shortly after 1 p.m., found Frye-Pleasant suffering from gunshot wounds in the restaurant’s kitchen, and he was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Authorities arrested La’Juan M. Johnson, a St. Louis resident and employee of the restaurant, and charged Johnson with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. Johnson is being held in the St. Louis jail without bond pending further proceedings. Detectives say the motive remains under investigation. The community and Frye-Pleasant’s family held funeral services to remember his life.

If anyone was at the 8th Street Restaurant that afternoon or has information about what led to the shooting, please share what you know.