Family of slain Georgia teen say he was shot for having a Wii controller in his hand

EUHARLEE, Ga., Feb. 19 (UPI) -- The family of Christopher Roupe claims that he was holding a Wii controller when he was fatally shot by a Euharlee police officer on Friday night.

The 17-year-old Georgia teen was shot when he answered the door after officers attempted to serve a probation violation warrant for his father at the Eagle View Mobile Home Park.

Roupe was in the ROTC at Woodland High School and was planning to join the Marines. “He was a good kid. He always hung out with me and he took up for me,” William Corson told WSB-TV.

A female officer told investigators that Roupe pointed a gun at her when he came to the door.

“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,” said the Roupe family’s attorney, Cole Law. “It just doesn't add up.”

Neighbors descended on the home after the shot was fired.

“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 neighbor Ken Yates.

“It has been determined that the teen was holding what appeared to be a weapon. The officer who fired the shot has been with our department for more than a year but has 10 years of law enforcement training and experience,” Euharlee Police Chief Terry Harget said on Saturday. “At this time that is all I can release because the incident is currently under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. As soon as the investigation is complete we will release the findings.”

The officer has been placed on administrative leave.

[WSB-TV] [Daily Tribune News]