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Classmates of Kannapolis officer's slain 14-year-old son host cookout to raise money

By Blaine Tolison, wsoctv.com
By Blaine Tolison, wsoctv.com

CONCORD, N.C. — The slaying of 14-year-old Anthony Frazier stunned neighborhoods from Charlotte to Kannapolis.

Friends still grieve his death, but celebrated his life on Friday by raising money for a memorial in his honor.

Channel 9 anchor Blaine Tollison went to the special event put on by parents, teachers and students.

Most of the children in attendance were friends with Anthony. For those children, losing a friend at such a young age has been tough.

[READ MORE: 2 teens arrested in slaying of police officer's son]

But an event in Anthony's memory is helping them find closure.

It's been only two months since Kannapolis middle schoolers Jordan Anthony and Braden White lost their close friend.

They knew him as the “Antman,” a nickname that their basketball coach gave Anthony for being small and fast.

"He would always bring you up, like if he was sad, mad, he would always bring you up. He was that type of person," Jordan said.

Frazier died in January when police said Mangasha Clark shot him as he and his aunt were pulling into their driveway on Finchley Drive in east Charlotte.

(Mangasha Clark, Reginald Edmonds)

Reginald Edmonds, who was with Clark, is also facing charges.

Police said Clark and Edmonds were hiding in the bushes and Clark fired bullets at random as the pair took off.

[PAST COVERAGE: Community, family remember slain 14-year-old Kannapolis boy]

Police said Frazier, an innocent victim, was struck while sitting in the back seat of his aunt's car.

"He was, like, he was my friend. He was like my brother and he died,” Braden said.

Anthony is remembered by many, including dozens of classmates who gathered at North Cabarrus Park in his honor.

They gave away food, played games and raffled off prizes to raise money for a memorial at Kannapolis Middle School.

English teacher Steve Fulton said the cookout is also a part of Jordan's and Braden’s class project to bring attention to issues including gun violence.

"I let them know that it's OK to be hurt," Fulton said. "It's going to be something that hangs over us and them and the community probably forever."

Students said they hope to have the memorial up for Anthony in the school gym by the start of next school year.

Police said they have no evidence showing that the suspects, Clark and Edmonds, knew Anthony.

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