Virginia Beach, Va. - Family and friends gathered to remember 18-year-old Cody Lane on Thursday night.
"I miss you, Cody, so much," his mom Stephanie told a crowd at LunaSea on 22nd Street before the group held a candlelight vigil at the Oceanfront. "He was my best friend."
Lane was shot and killed in March, according to police. Glen Phillips, 50, is charged with involuntary manslaughter in his death. The charge was certified to a grand jury earlier on Thursday. Phillips has told a judge the gun "accidentally discharged."
Cody's dad told NewsChannel 3 Phillips was a bad influence on his son, but didn't want to get more specific because of the investigation.
Family and friends didn't want to talk about the case on Thursday night, saying they wanted to focus on the positives of the Kellam High grad. "He was a happy person. He lived life to the fullest, so let's give celebration to Cody," said his grandfather John Williams.
Cody's mom used the gathering to remind everyone how fragile life can be. "If you have loved ones, if you have children especially, let them know how proud you are of them, and how much you love them."
Related:
Father of Virginia Beach teen remembers son: ‘He didn’t deserve to lose his life this way’
