Victim, stepdad reportedly fought days before shooting

Bryce McCallum was getting ready for fatherhood and his second year at the University of West Georgia when he was fatally shot and killed.

His stepfather, 39-year-old Carl Lewis, stopped a police officer directing traffic on Sunday at First Baptist Church of Woodstock and said he shot the 19-year-old, Cherokee County sheriff ’s Lt. Jay Baker said.

Authorities found McCallum dead of an apparent single gunshot wound to the head in the family’s Woodstock home in the 500 block of Mirramont Place, which is off Bells Ferry Road and about 15 minutes from the church.

His girlfriend is expecting the couple’s first child in December, according to Channel 2 Action News.

McCallum asked his best friend and college roommate, Kaelo Amanmbu, to be the baby’s godfather.

“It was two days ago, man,” Amanmbu said through his tears. “He was sitting right in front of me.”

For Amanmbu, like many of McCallum’s friends, the reality of the young man’s death hasn’t fully sunk in.

Friends of McCallum’s told Channel 2 that Lewis was “out of control.” They said the two men fought a few days before the fatal shooting after Lewis allegedly punched McCallum’s little brother.

It was not immediately clear if authorities were notified of the incident.

“Bryce wasn’t having that,” Chris Kandra said. “He stuck up for his blood brother like anybody should.”

Ian Barnett said McCallum’s mother kicked Lewis out of the home.

“From my knowledge,” Barnett told Channel 2, “he came back and he was blaming Bryce for everything.”

Lewis is being held without bail at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center on charges of murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

He is expected to have his first court appearance at the county jail at 4:30 p.m. today, Baker said.