Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Support independent student journalism. Support independent student journalism. Support independent student journalism.
The Dartmouth
July 17, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Friends of slain '07 charged in killing

In a move that shocked the Berkeley community, police named two close friends of Meleia Willis-Starbuck '07 as suspects accused of the former Dartmouth sophomore's murder. In a statement issued Wednesday, Berkeley police announced that Christopher Wilson, 20, of Berkeley, Calif. was arrested after confessing to the crime, and an arrest warrant has been issued for Christopher Hollis, 21 of Hayward, Calif.

According to District Attorney John Adams, Willis-Starbuck called Hollis on her cell phone following an argument between her friends and a group of male students. The students were incoming freshmen attending a UC Berkeley bridge program.

Police allege that Wilson then drove Hollis to the scene. It still remains unclear whether Wilson was aware that Hollis had a gun.

Elizabeth Grossman, Wilson's attorney, could not be reached for comment. She stated during Wilson's arraignment before the Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland, Calif. that her client had no prior knowledge of Hollis's intentions.

Wilson is currently charged with murder and is expected to enter a plea on Wednesday. He could face 25 years in prison regardless of whether or not he knew of Hollis's intentions, Adams said.

"It's too early to tell. We believe that there is sufficient evidence to show that [Wilson] was the aider and abetter," Adams said. "If he knew that Mr. Hollis was going there with the intent to do harm and drove him there, then he's just as liable for the act because he is liable for the whole plan and scheme."

Police would not confirm that Willis-Starbuck called Hollis, but Adams alleges that a number of witnesses at the scene indicated that Willis-Starbuck suggested that her friend bring a gun.

"She called Hollis," Adams said. "There are witnesses that say they heard her say 'bring the heat' and if that's true ... that's not a very good thing."

Friends of Willis-Starbuck expressed shock that she would ask her friend to bring a weapon and insinuated the argument must have been more serious than initially reported.

In an interview with The Dartmouth following the murder, Stephanie de Souza, a friend of Willis-Starbuck who was with her just prior to the shootings, said the argument had not led to the incident.

"I guess some insults flew towards Meleia and her friends. They were being sarcastic, they meant it as a joke," de Souza said. "The girls took it a little too seriously, but it didn't escalate at all."

However, later reports indicated that the argument continued even after de Souza returned to her apartment, less than a block away from the shooting.

According to Adams, at the time of the incident, Willis-Starbuck remained on the sidewalk talking to the group of men while her friends entered a car and tried to encourage her to leave with them.

Wilson and Hollis had reportedly been attending a party on the north campus of UC Berkeley. That placed them less than five minutes from Willis-Starbuck when she called Hollis.

Sources allege that Hollis exited the vehicle and fired once in the air, again at the crowd of male students and at Willis-Starbuck. Willis-Starbuck was hit once in the chest and was pronounced dead approximately 15 minutes later at 2 a.m. Sunday.

Police are encouraging Hollis to turn himself in to authorities.

"It is really important for Hollis to turn himself in so there can be resolution for this case and resolution with this family," Joe Okies, public relations officer for the Berkeley Police, said. "It certainly doesn't help that Mr. Hollis has not turned himself in or made himself available [to the police]."

A memorial service was held on Friday at Berkeley High School, where Willis-Starbuck, Hollis and Wilson all attended.

Nearly 1,000 people came to the event, including 20 of Willis-Starbuck's friends from Dartmouth. Jonathan Lesesne '07 read a poem he composed about her as part of the service.

Kevin Garland contributed to this report.