Family of teen killed at Cobb sleepover says case ‘not taken seriously’ as suspect’s charges dropped

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The family of a teenager who was killed at a sleepover in Cobb County last month says his killer is roaming free.

Charles “C.J.” Brown, 15, was spending the night at his friend’s house in May when he was shot in the face and later died at the hospital.

Brown’s mother, Ashley Heard, told Channel 2′s Michael Seiden that it took nearly 40 minutes for someone to call for help, and when the adults present finally did, they left before police arrived.

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“As much as I don’t understand any of the adults’ actions on that day, I still wouldn’t wish this pain on any of them,” Heard said.

Heard says that police told her the adults in the home told them that her son shot himself in the face. She doesn’t believe it.

“He knows gun safety. He frequents the gun range with my older son,” she explained.

She says the autopsy showed he was laying down when he was shot and there was no way he could have shot himself.

Cobb County police told Seiden that they are not naming any suspects citing the ongoing investigation.

In Juvenile Court on Wednesday, Brown’s family learned that the charges against his friend charged in connection to his death have been dropped.

“I feel like the investigation wasn’t taken seriously,” Heard said.

Prosecutors also declined to comment because the case involves a child.

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