COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) - John Barnett, a civil rights activist from Charlotte, and supporters of Jasmine Thar held a press conference in Whiteville Friday.
Barnett says it's been more than 16 months since Thar was killed and it's past time for the district attorney to come forward and say if charges will be filed or not.
Barnett said when they last met with Jon David, he told them the results will be back soon, even if he had to drive out of state to get them; however, Barnett says it's been nearly a year since David said that.
Barnett said they just want an answer so they can move on with their lives.
Supporters are planning a march in Chadbourn at New Beginnings Church this summer.
The Democratic Women and Men of Columbus County is the first local organization to publicly show support for Thar and criticize DA Jon David.
Barnett said the organization is helping with the march. He said it's been hard trying to plan an event in Columbus County, because they've never had open support from locals. According to Barnett, having Democratic Women and Men of Columbus County helps them a lot.
He also says they've reached out to Nancy Grace.
David said he's waiting on complicated scientific testing results to come back from the Federal Bureau of Investigation lab before making a decision on whether or not to file charges. He said the results should be in soon.
The district attorney said he will have a conference with Thar's family as soon as the results are in.
Jasmine Thar, 16, of Charlotte, was killed while visiting family in Columbus County, but her family and friends are not slowing down their efforts to get what they say is justice for the teen.
James Anthony Blackwell from Chadbourn says he was cleaning his gun when he shot Thar in 2011.
That shooting was ruled accidental, but Thar's family thinks otherwise.
In January, a rally for Thar was held in the sanctuary at New Foundations Church in South Charlotte.
The Thar family met with the Columbus County District Attorney last April. They say they understand the investigation takes time, but they are pressing for answers.
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Jasmine Thar (Source: Facebook)
