Mother says son was killed for not selling cigarette to shooter

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A mother is filled with grief after she says someone killed her son because he wouldn't sell him cigarettes.

Brenda Jackson told Channel 2's Tom Jones that police have good leads in the search for her son's killer.

“Every parent wants to be with their child when they ... my son is gone,” Jackson said, breaking down in tears talking about her son, Bra’vion Canty, 25. “All this over a cigarette.”

Jackson said it all began around midnight Wednesday. She told Jones a group of people came to her daughter's Laurel Park apartment unit as they were on the patio and asked if they could buy some cigarettes.

“And my son told them we don't sell cigarettes over here," Jackson said.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Rapper to surrender on charges connected to shooting outside The Varsity
• Police: Body found near pool believed to be missing teen
• Dangerous raccoon dogs terrorizing town after escaping from pen

She said that's when one of the men insisted they did. A man said he ran to the apartments and made a gang reference.

“He lifted up his shirt and showed he had a gun,” Jackson told Jones.

The mother said her son told the group to leave. As they left, words were exchanged. Jackson said her son followed the group as he insisted they stop bothering his family.

“All I know is I heard a bunch of gunshots,” Jackson said.

After hearing the shots, she ran out, looking for her son.

“I say, 'Please find my son. Find my son,'” Jackson said.

Not too far away, she found him.

"I seen my son laying right here on the ground. He was still breathing," Jackson said.
Canty later died.

Police are searching for his killer.

Jackson said detectives have good leads.

“I just hope they find out who killed my son,” Jackson said.

Jones called police for an update on the case but hasn’t heard back.

Jackson claims it took paramedics more than an hour to get to the apartment complex and treat her son.

The emergency medical services director told Jones that is not true and his crews quickly got there but had to wait until police cleared the scene.

He said it then took about 13 minutes to get to Canty.

Cox Media Group