Cherokee County

Police: Stepfather confesses at church to shooting son

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — A Cherokee County stepfather is accused of shooting and killing his 19-year-old stepson inside their home.

Police said Carl Lewis approached a deputy in church and said he had just shot his son.

When police arrived on the 500 block of Mirramont near Bells Ferry, they found the victim shot to death in a chair.

"As soon as we saw your news van, it was like reality just hit and it was like this is it. This is the proof he's actually gone."

Friends have confirmed to Channel 2's Tyisha Fernandes the victim is Bryce McCallum, 19.

Police say one witness told them he heard a single gunshot while trimming bushes, but didn't think anything of it.

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The victim had just finished his freshman year in college, police said.

When Lexi Pulliam found out her friend McCallum was shot and killed she could barely hold it together.

"As soon as we saw your news van, it was, like, reality just hit and it was, like, this is it. This is the proof he's actually gone," Pulliam said.

Friend Chris Kandra said McCallum was scared of his stepfather.

"His stepfather was just out of control. He was pretty scared, to be honest with you," Kandra said.

Kandra said McCallum got into a fight with Lewis three days after an incident in which Lewis allegedly punched McCallum's little brother.

"Bryce wasn't having that so he stuck up for his blood brother like anybody should," Kandra said.

McCallum's friend Ian Barnett told Channel 2's Tyisha Fernandes that Lewis was kicked out of the home by McCallum's mother.

"From my knowledge he came back and he was blaming Bryce for everything," Barnett said.

Police have made contact with the mother who was not home when the teen was killed.