A North Carolina father is mourning the loss of his 15-year-old son after a dispute over a pair of jeans turned deadly inside their home, according to family members.
The victim, identified as Cayden Alston, was shot and killed Friday at his residence on Springshire Court in Raleigh. His father, CJ Alston, said the incident began when his son attempted to sell a pair of jeans to two other teenagers.
According to the father, the situation escalated when the teens refused to pay for the jeans. Cayden reportedly would not hand over the item without payment, leading to one of the teens opening fire.
The shooting happened inside the family’s home, where CJ Alston said his son had been told not to have visitors over. Despite that, the two teens arrived at the house earlier that day.
Doorbell camera footage reviewed by the father showed the suspects behaving suspiciously before the shooting, including attempting to access the home from different areas. The entire encounter unfolded in about 15 minutes, with the teens arriving shortly before noon and police responding within minutes of the shooting.
In a heartbreaking account, Alston said his son tried to move around the house after being shot, leaving blood throughout multiple rooms as he attempted to help himself.
Cayden was his father’s only child.
“I miss most is his face. Talking to him,” Alston said, reflecting on his loss.
Authorities have filed a juvenile petition against the suspect, whose identity has not been released due to their age. The investigation remains ongoing.
Alston is now speaking out, urging young people to avoid violence.
“I just want to let the youth know, leave the guns alone,” he said.
The tragic incident has left the Raleigh community shaken, highlighting the devastating consequences of youth violence over seemingly minor disputes.
