‘She Put Her Head in Her Hands and She Was Sobbing’: This Incident Is About as Tragic as It Gets

A 17-year-old was shot and killed by a Georgia police officer on Friday after he answered the door holding what the cop assumed was a firearm. The family’s attorney, citing eyewitness accounts, now says the teen was holding a Wii remote.

What is agreed upon is the fact that Christopher Roupe, who was in the ROTC program at Woodland High School in Euharlee, Ga., answered the door when a female officer knocked looking to serve a probation violation warrant for his dad.

Cole Law, the family’s attorney, says Roupe was “immediately” shot in the chest.

Christopher Roupe, 17. (WSB-TV)

The female officer reportedly told investigators that Roupe pointed a firearm at her when he opened the door.

“We don't know where that statement came from,” Law told WSB-TV. “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.”

Tia Howard, a neighbor who lives a few houses down, said she ran to the scene after hearing the gunshot. She says she was told that Roupe was holding a Wii remote in his hand.

Another neighbor, Ken Yates, told the news station that he saw the female officer get very emotional moments after the shooting.

“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,” Yates explained.

The female officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure after a shooting involving a cop. Following an autopsy, all evidence will be handed over to the Cherokee Judicial Circuit District Attorney.

We will provide updates to this story as more information becomes available.

(H/T: Mediaite)