Jefferson City man found guilty in killing of Lincoln University student

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Cole County judge on Wednesday found a Jefferson City man guilty in the deadly shooting of a Lincoln University student in 2018.

Judge Daniel Green found Alfred Chism Jr. guilty of second-degree murder and armed-criminal action in the death of Charon Session at Chism's home in Jefferson City.

Chism admitted to killing Session in 2018, but he claimed it was in self-defense. Chism said Session had been harassing him before the shooting. Chism was indicted by a grand jury on a first-degree murder charge.

Session was hit twice, the probable cause statement said, and Chism called 911 to report the shooting. Chisms' defense team has requested additional time to file a motion for a new trial. Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson said it was to be expected.

"There's additional time that can be granted that the defense attorney did ask for," Thompson said. "That is for them to file a motion for a new trial. Which is standard in any case where the defendant is found guilty."

The second-degree murder charge is a Class-A felony and can carry a sentence from 10-30 years or a life sentence, with the possibility of parole. Armed-criminal action is an unclassified felony.

"We're operating under the old law in this case, which was a minimum of three years but with no cap of years. Meaning any number of years could be imposed but no fewer than three," Thompson said, regarding the armed-criminal action felony.

Thompson said Session's family was told before the hearing that Chism could be convicted of the lesser charge.

"I'm sure there might be a little bit of frustration there. But, at the end of the day, they knew going into it that you know, a finding of second-degree murder is always possible when we're looking at a first-degree murder case," Thompson said. "They've been very understanding and extremely patient throughout the pendency of the case."

Chism's bench trial began earlier this month, and the final sentencing has been scheduled for April 4.