Who killed Christopher Moltisanti?

Tony Soprano killed Christopher Moltisanti in “Kennedy and Heidi,” an episode from the second half of The Sopranos’ sixth season. After a car crash leaves Christopher critically injured, Tony notices that Christopher is struggling to breathe and deliberately pinches his nose shut, suffocating him.

The scene follows a devastating accident involving Tony and Christopher on a rural road. Christopher, played by Michael Imperioli, is badly wounded, while Tony escapes with comparatively minor injuries. Tony’s decision is presented as a calculated act rather than an accident: he sees that Christopher’s drug use and reckless behavior could expose the family and endanger others.

This death is sometimes misremembered as a killing by one of Tony’s New York rivals, such as Phil Leotardo. However, Phil does not kill Christopher, and neither Silvio Dante nor Paulie Walnuts is responsible. The episode aired on May 13, 2007, and Christopher’s death became one of the series’ major turning points.