A case that has haunted Midtown and the University of Memphis community for more than two years took a major turn Tuesday. Julio Hernandez pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2026, to every charge tied to the hit-and-run that killed 20-year-old U of M student Ava Christopher on July 25, 2023. The plea came in Shelby County Criminal Court and pulled a high-profile crash back into the public eye, after months of vigils, court dates, and unanswered questions for Christopher’s family.
Prosecutors: Guilty plea covers multiple charges
According to WREG, Hernandez entered guilty pleas to vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, reckless driving, failure to exercise due care, disregarding a traffic signal, driving without a license, and related counts. Prosecutors with the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office said the agreement resolves every charge filed in connection with the Midtown collision. Court records did not yet list a sentencing date at the time of the report.
Police: Driver ran red light at high speed
Memphis police say the deadly crash unfolded just after midnight on July 25 at the intersection of Cooper Street and Central Avenue. Investigators reported that a red Dodge Challenger ran a red light and slammed into Christopher’s vehicle on the driver’s side at an estimated 88 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour zone. Authorities said the Challenger had been reported stolen out of Southaven, Mississippi, and that its rims were missing when the wreck occurred. Surveillance video captured a man and a woman walking away from the scene. Investigators arrested Hernandez on Nov. 16, 2023, after they say they found him driving the same car with the missing rims, and he admitted to operating the vehicle that night, according to Action News 5.
Remembering Christopher and the community response
Christopher was a 20-year-old biology major at the University of Memphis who worked at Sugar Ghost on Broad and planned to become a veterinarian, details shared by friends and family. In the months after the crash, her loved ones and community members pushed for answers as police searched for the driver who ran. CrimeStoppers of Memphis and Shelby County later posted an extra reward that climbed to $20,000 to help identify those who fled. Family members have held vigils and marched in Midtown while the case moved through the courts, according to CrimeStoppers.
What’s next in court
With Hernandez’s guilty pleas now on the record, the case moves into the sentencing phase and his criminal file will formally reflect the admissions. A specific sentencing date had not been made public immediately after the hearing. Before Tuesday’s plea, prosecutors had secured indictments and a probable cause finding as the investigation moved forward, and court filings show Hernandez had been released on bond following his November 2023 arrest. Community members and advocacy groups say they plan to keep an eye on the docket as Christopher’s family continues to seek closure, per Action News 5.
