LAWRENCEVILLE, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Investigators are looking for a teenager who punched another teen so hard his brain swelled, police said.
Jamaree Priest, 17, knocked out Damon McQueen, 15, with one punch, sending him sprawling to the ground at the Knollwood Park apartment complex on Honeysuckle Circle, police said.
"All I remember is him walking up to us, and that's all I remember," McQueen said. "I was shocked, it was awkward. I didn't feel like I got hit."
It is unclear what led to the incident. Police are investigating two possible motives. Priest allegedly punched McQueen over a piece of candy or he may have retaliated against McQueen for an alleged argument McQueen had with Priest's friend.
McQueen said that's not what happened at all.
"He didn't know me," McQueen said. "He probably just hit me, because he felt like hitting me."
"Just for an argument over a piece of candy or saying something to somebody else, that's something we will not tolerate," said Capt. Greg Vaughn of the Lawrenceville Police Department.
Neighbors said regardless of the reason, it should never have happened.
Barbara Hall was upset to hear such violence happened so close to where she lives.
"You never know what's gonna happen. It's scary. What if they come up to my door?" Hall said. "I just think it's a horrible thing."
Doctors had to place McQueen into a coma to reduce the swelling on his brain, police said.
McQueen's mother, Shaleesha Hollis, told CBS Atlanta News that her son is recovering, but has had several seizures.
"He was on a ventilator for 24 hours at least," Hollis said. "The frontal lobe swelled and they had to put him in an induced coma until they could take care of him. It is a horrible thing to see your child hooked up to tubes down their throat and ventilators and everything like that. And then your child wakes up not knowing what happened to him, asking mommy, 'Why am I here?' That is a horrible feeling."
Police have yet to find Priest.
"If someone would commit this crime for such a minute thing, what are they capable of? What will they do next?" Vaughn asked.
Police ask anyone with information on the suspect's whereabouts to call 770-963-2443.
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Damon McQueen
