GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The process of choosing a jury has begun in the trial of a Lithonia man accused of murdering a teen said to be his friend.
Austin Ford, 25, is charged in the shooting death of Tori Lang, 18, nearly two years ago.
Police discovered her body in Yellow River Park near Stone Mountain.
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Channel 2′s Tom Regan spoke with Lang’s parents who said they are seeking justice for their daughter.
They still don’t know why their daughter was killed and said the next couple of days are going to be very hard on them.
Jury selection is now underway for Ford.
For nearly a year, Ford eluded arrest.
Prosecutors say Ford murdered Lang in July 2021.
She was shot to death.
Her burned-out car was found a few miles away from Yellow River Park.
“We don’t understand what could have been going through his mind,” Lang’s father, Torrey Lang, said. “And what situation could have occurred that led to this? Hopefully, it will come out during the trial.”
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The victim’s parents said their daughter had been best friends with her accused killer for five years.
On the eve of the trial, the motive is still unknown to anyone but Ford.
Her parents and aunt arrived for the first day of jury selection at the Gwinnett County Justice Center in Lawrenceville on Monday.
“We don’t understand why this happened. It’s such a tragedy because she had a bright future ahead of her. She had so many things she wanted to do,” Tori’s mother, Teresa Lang, said.
Tori’s mother said her daughter aspired to be an engineer, an entrepreneur, and an inventor. She said her daughter was intelligent, kind, and humble.
Her aunt and Godmother helped raise her from a little girl.
“It’s a very heartbreaking and emotional situation for all of us, and having to deal with the loss of our baby girl. It doesn’t ever get easy, I’ll say that,” Tori’s aunt, Tamara Lang, said.
The family said it will be hard to sit in on the murder trial, which will reopen wounds.
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“It won’t bring her back, but it will give me a sense of peace in my heart,” Teresa Lang said.
But they’re determined to see justice served for their daughter.
“I want to bring light to the situation, just justice, so no other parent will have to deal with situations like this,” Torrey Lang said.
Ford is charged with felony murder and aggravated assault.
He could face a sentence of life in prison if convicted.
The trial is expected to last one to two weeks.
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