A Raleigh teen shot inside his own home has died after a jeans sale turned violent, leaving a father grieving and a juvenile suspect facing charges.
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Raleigh father is living every parent’s worst nightmare after his 15-year-old son was shot and killed inside their own home — and the person responsible is someone the teen reportedly trusted.
According to authorities, the deadly shooting happened Friday morning at a residence in the 1400 block of Springshire Court.
The victim has been identified as 15-year-old Cayden, the only child of his father, CJ Alston.
A DEAL OVER JEANS TURNS DEADLY
The father told local reporters that the situation started over something as simple as a clothing sale.
Cayden had been trying to sell a pair of jeans when two teenage boys came to the home. But the transaction allegedly turned into a deadly setup.
According to the father, the teens refused to pay for the jeans — and when Cayden refused to hand them over without payment, one of them pulled out a gun and opened fire.
“I TOLD HIM NOT TO HAVE ANYBODY OVER”
Cayden’s father says the tragedy is even harder to process because he had warned his son just the night before.
He says Cayden was on punishment and was not supposed to have any visitors.
Despite that, the teens still showed up.
RING CAMERA FOOTAGE SHOWS SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR
The father says he later reviewed footage from the home’s security system — and what he saw raised red flags.
According to him, the teens were acting suspicious before entering the home — allegedly walking around the house, trying to figure out access points, and asking questions about which room belonged to Cayden. The suspects reportedly arrived around 11:36 a.m.
In one of the most heartbreaking details, the father says his son was still moving after being shot — trying to make it through the home while bleeding.
He described signs of blood throughout multiple rooms, showing just how hard Cayden tried to survive.
FATHER LEFT WITH MEMORIES OF HIS ONLY CHILD
Now, the grieving father says he’s left with nothing but memories.
He described his son as everything to him — his only child — and says what he misses most is simply being able to see and talk to him.
Authorities confirm that a juvenile petition has been filed against the teen accused of pulling the trigger.
Because of the suspect’s age, officials have not released a name.
The investigation remains ongoing.
