High school student killed as friends gathered in backyard, gunned down over bottles, official says

A high school student in Georgia was fatally shot as she and her friends shot bottles in the backyard of a house, authorities said.

The deadly shooting took place at around 8 p.m. Tuesday at a residence on Mount Zion, about 55 miles from Atlanta. Four people were in the backyard of the house when 17-year-old Candace Chrzan was shot once. She died at the scene, a spokesperson for the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office said.

The agency released a few more details about the shooting, which was called a “gruesome tragedy.”

According to friends and family, Chrzan was preparing to graduate from Mount Zion High School in a few weeks and had already picked up her cap and dress.

“No family should ever have to bury a child at this age,” said family friend Tiffany Cantrell, NBC affiliate, WXIA-TV. “As you can imagine, this is one of the most difficult things we have all experienced.”

Chrzan was raised by her grandparents, the outlet reported. Cantrell said Chrzan’s grandfather “will not sit back until justice is done for Candace.”

“We don’t believe guns kill people. We believe that people kill people and whether or not there was a criminal act in this situation, this weapon ended up in the hands of a minor who should not have been in possession of this weapon ” . Cantrell continued. “Someone over there has to take responsibility for this.”

Autum Parker, who worked with Chrzan at Dairy Queen, remembered her as the “nicest person”.

“She would make you feel amazing about everything,” she said. “Her laugh! It’s laughter. Every time you hear it, you’ll be like Candace is timed now!”

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office said it worked with the Mount Zion Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office. No charges were laid during the shooting.