Sisters charged in 3-year-old's beating death waive first appearance

ATLANTA - Two sisters charged in the beating death of a 3-year-old boy waived their first court appearance Friday morning. 

LaShirley Morris, 27, and her sister, Glenndria Morris, 25, are both charged with the murder of Kejuan “King” Mason. They were arrested on Thursday.

First responders found the child not breathing after being called to a home on Cleveland Avenue last Saturday afternoon. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Kejuan's family said they were initially told he had choked on a cupcake, but the Fulton County Medical Examiner ruled he died from blunt force trauma.

"He choked on a cupcake? I knew right then it wasn't right, I had a feeling, a mother has that feeling that something was wrong," said Geraldine Mason.

Glenndria Morris gained guardianship of Kejuan and his twin brother Kerry after their parents lost custody of them. The mother said she had lost custody of the boys when she didn't have a place to live but was working to get them back.

"She was my friend, I've known her a long time, she's been a part of their lives," said Geraldine Mason.

Kejuan's family said the arrests are the first steps in getting justice for the little boy. They said they won't rest until they see everyone responsible for his death prosecuted.

"I'm still grieving, I'm mad, I'm upset and I'm angry, but I have to have peace for my other grand-babies that need me," said Kejuan's grandmother, Xavier Upshaw.

Earlier in the week, the family gathered at Washington Park where they held candles and prayed for King.

"He was just a baby, he was so sweet and loving," said Upshaw.

They also prayed for justice.

"We want justice, we're not going to go to sleep on this," said Upshaw.

The family has set up an online account to help pay for funeral expenses. GoFundMe.com/zcufe-homegoing-for-king-mason