Attorney: Teen was shot for having Wii controller in hand

EUHARLEE, Ga. — The family of a 17-year-old shot and killed by a Euharlee police officer has hired an attorney, and they say he had a remote control in his hand. They say it was not a gun.

Christopher Roupe, 17, was in the ROTC at Woodland High School and wanted to join the Marines. His friends said he looked after them.

"He was a good kid. He always hung out with me and he took up for me," said William Corson.

Roupe's young life ended Friday night when Euharlee police officers showed up at the door of his home in the Eagle View Mobile Home Park to serve a probation violation warrant for his father.

A female police officer told GBI investigators that Roupe pointed a gun at her when he opened the door.

"It just doesn't add up," said Cole Law who is representing the Roupe family.

Law said Roupe was about to watch a movie.

"We don't know where that statement came from. The eyewitnesses on the scene clearly state that he had a Wii controller in his hand. He heard a knock at the door. He asked who it was, there was no response so he opened the door and upon opening the door he was immediately shot in the chest," Law said.

Neighbors said they ran to the home after they heard the shot.

"When we got up there, they said there was a Wii remote in his hand and she shot him," said Tia Howard, who lives a few doors down.

Neighbor Ken Yates said he saw the female officer moments after the fatal shot.

"This is tragic. She came out of this house. She put her head in her hands and she was sobbing. Supposedly, he opened the door with a BB gun and in my opinion I think he was playing a game with his neighborhood buddies," said Yates.

The officer is on administrative leave, which is standard procedure after an officer-involved shooting.

The GBI said the autopsy is complete, and they will turn over evidence to Cherokee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Rosemary Greene's office.

The funeral for Roupe is planned for Friday.

WSBTV