LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — A Georgia family is mourning the deaths of two teenage brothers who were shot and killed just a short distance from their home in Lawrenceville. Their mother says the boys had promising futures and were working toward their dreams when their lives were cut short.
Gwinnett County Police have arrested 19-year-old Alexander Canela-Panchi in connection with the shooting deaths of 14-year-old Antoine Boykin and 17-year-old Jordan Boykin.
The brothers were remembered by their mother and aunt as hardworking students, athletes, and aspiring entrepreneurs. They were also developing their own shoe company and had hopes of building a successful future together.
Mother Recalls Receiving the Terrifying Phone Call
Meagan Boykin said she was going about her day when she received an urgent call from her daughter. The caller told her that Jordan and Antoine had just left the house and that she believed she had heard approximately 10 gunshots.
“Their sister had called me and said ‘Mama, Jordan and T baby just walked out the door. I think I just heard like 10 gunshots. I think you should get home,'” Boykin recalled.
She immediately stopped what she was doing and rushed home.
When she arrived at the scene on Heather Stone Way, her two oldest sons had already died. According to the family, the shooting happened just two houses away from their home.
“They are supposed to bury me. I’m not supposed to bury them,” Boykin said.
Police Arrest 19-Year-Old Suspect
Gwinnett County Police said the shooting occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Investigators charged 19-year-old Alexander Canela-Panchi with several offenses, including felony murder, in connection with the brothers’ deaths.
According to police, Canela-Panchi told investigators that he was selling a vape to the teenagers when an altercation broke out before the shooting.
Police said the suspect and the brothers had met once before. However, investigators found no evidence of any other previous connection between them.
The family, however, believes the relationship may have been closer than investigators have described. Relatives said the brothers considered the suspect a friend and questioned why they would have felt comfortable meeting him so close to their home if they did not know him.
“They felt safe enough to go outside 2 houses from their home, too see this person,” a family member said.
Family Raises Questions About Missing Belongings
As the investigation continues, the family is also seeking answers about personal belongings that may have gone missing after the shooting.
The brothers’ aunt, Genea Harris, said items including their car keys may have been taken. She wants investigators to determine what happened to those belongings.
“We need to know where his car keys are and they aren’t found that means some has them,” Harris said.
Police have not confirmed whether any personal belongings were taken from the scene.
Family Prepares to Lay the Brothers to Rest
While relatives continue to seek answers, they are also facing the difficult task of making funeral arrangements for Antoine and Jordan.
Their deaths have left their mother and extended family devastated. The brothers, who were still in their teenage years, had been pursuing their education, participating in sports, and planning a business together.
For their loved ones, the loss is not only the loss of two sons and brothers but also the future they had hoped to build.
Source: 11Alive – Grieving family remembers two teenage brothers killed in Lawrenceville shooting
Related coverage: 11Alive – Two teenage brothers killed in Gwinnett County shooting
