‘I don’t have him no more’: Family remembers 12-year-old killed in shooting near Atlantic Station

ATLANTA — There were waves of emotion during a Sunday night vigil for family and friends of 12-year-old Zyion Charles.

Police told Channel 2 Action News that Charles was shot and killed Saturday on the 17th Street bridge. Charles had been caught up in a dispute between a group of friends.

Channel 2′s Justin Carter spoke to Zyion’s family, who said Charles was an innocent bystander.

Zyion’s grandmother, Sandra Durden, told Channel 2 Action News that enough is enough.

She’s tired of vigils and tired of releasing balloons.

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She said Zyion was in the seventh grade and wants people to know he didn’t own a gun but was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

A sea of white and red balloons to remember who Zyion was, a student at KIPP Soul Academy.

Zyion’s family said he loved music, his family, and his twin sister Zyrhia.

“It was a hole. And now it’s a half. I don’t have him no more,” Zyrhia said.

Police said a large group of minors got into a dispute shortly after they were escorted out of Atlantic Station for curfew violations and unruly behavior.

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“Everyone involved yesterday was a teenager and we recovered three handguns from this location. Handguns in the wrong hands leads to tragedy,” Chief of Police Darin Schierbaum said.

“You could never imagine a 12-year-old losing his life,” Durden said.

Durden said she had just made her grandson a promise for Christmas.

“I said if you go to school every day until Christmas break, I promise you I’m gonna get you an iPhone 13. He was so happy,” she said.

But that wish will never be granted. She’ll be grieving her grandson for the rest of her life.

So far, no arrests have been made. Atlanta Police believe they are close to issuing warrants and making arrests in this case.

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