Police on Milton teen shotgun death: ‘They were 5 feet apart'

Print
E-mail

By Marcus K. Garner and John Spink

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Milton teen was killed Sunday by a shotgun blast at close range, police said.

Enlarge photo

Police said a 16-year old died Sunday afternoon at this townhouse on Genesis Way in Milton after he was shot several times by his stepfather with a 12-gauge shotgun.

John Spink, jspink@ajc.com Police said a 16-year old died Sunday afternoon at this townhouse on Genesis Way in Milton after he was shot several times by his stepfather with a 12-gauge shotgun.

More Atlanta area news »

Eric Brandon called police to report shooting his stepson, 16-year-old Alexander Koser, with a 12-gauge shotgun, according to police.

“They were about 5 feet apart,” Milton police spokesman Capt. Shawn McCarty told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The shooting occurred during an argument at about 2:30 p.m. in the 3100 block of Genesis Way, said Milton Police Capt. Shawn McCarty. Koser died at the scene.

Brandon and Koser lived in the townhouse with the teen’s two younger siblings and mother, Brandon’s wife, police said. None of the others were home at the time of the shooting.

Brandon, 46, has been charged with two counts of felony murder and with possession of a weapon while committing a felony. He is being held in Fulton County Jail awaiting a Feb. 27 bond hearing.

Neighbors who live in the townhouse subdivision in the 3000 block of Genesis Way painted differing pictures of the family.

“The father? He was a great guy,” said Florence Jones. “If I needed a ride to work, he and his wife would offer it to me. Once I asked if he had a tool I could borrow, and he came right over and helped me.”

But teens who knew the Alpharetta High School junior said he had complained about his stepfather.

“He wouldn’t get into detail, but he would always say he never really liked his step-dad,” Deonte Petit, 17, said.

Alex Messing, who called himself Koser’s best friend, said the teen and his stepfather “were always arguing.”

Brandon did not have a criminal record, and McCarty said there were no records of police responding to fights at the home.

School officials notified Alpharetta High parents of Koser’s death Sunday night, and grief counselors were on hand Monday morning to help students in need.

Koser was known as a poet and cartoonist, and was a member of the school’s Anime’ Club.

“He was very good at animation,” Messing said.

Police continue to investigate the shooting.

-- Staff writer Russell Grantham contributed to this story.