17-year-old dies in shooting at prom after-party

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM/Gray News) - A teenage boy was killed after a shooting at a prom after-party early Sunday morning.

Bryson Cochran, 17, was a senior at Central High School in Columbus, Georgia.

Rodger Suggs, who lives in the neighborhood, said there was a big party with a lot of teenagers after prom.

“All of a sudden gunfire just rang out. It must have been around a hundred shots,” he said.

Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan said about 100 people were at the party.

“We were notified at 12:56 a.m. that there had been a shooting and that there was a signal 16, which means a death call,” Bryan said.

Before the shooting, police showed up at the party for a noise complaint.

“The shooting happened about five minutes after the police arrived actually. It was just a random shooting multiple rounds were fired,” Bryan said.

One neighbor said he noticed the crowd of people but went to bed. Later, the sound of gunshots woke him up.

“I came to the door and noticed several people was outside. I noticed a young man laying on the road. It was really a shock because it happened so quick,” the neighbor said.

Bryan said Bryson was “at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“He was trying to celebrate graduation with his friends,” Bryan said.

Police are still working to identify a suspect in the shooting.

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