Cobb County

Man killed at party was working on GED so he could become a Marine

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A 20-year-old who was shot and killed at a house party was in the process of working for his GED so he could become a U.S. Marine, his father told Channel 2's Chris Jose.

Jose spoke to Rodney Koen, whose son, Ty Koen, was killed Sunday after an argument at a home on Hunter Road in Powder Springs.

“People who killed my son, I think you should turn yourselves in. You've done a horrible thing,” Rodney Koen said. “Somebody just lost a loved one. You need to stand up and speak. Speak up for what's right.”

He said his son was attending a party for a friend who just arrived home from serving in the military.

“(A witness) said he was right beside the guy, just like you and me. He said the guy pulled a gun out and started shooting. (Ty) was trying to run when gunshots went off. Somebody through the window shot him. They said he made it to the car, and somebody ran to the car and shot him again,” Rodney Koen said.

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He made a plea Monday, asking the people who attended the party to come forward with information.

“This could happen to your brother, your son, your cousin. You could be in the same situation as I am right now,” he said.

Ty Koen’s best friend, Kameron Smith, made the same plea.

“No one is saying nothing. If people know, they really need to say because we're just trying to figure out why this happened,” he said.

Smith said Ty had no enemies.

“I just hope you get locked up. I don't wish death upon no one, but it's pretty hard not to right now,” Smith said.

Investigators said they’re still interviewing witnesses.

Family and friends held a vigil for Ty Koen Monday evening.