Friday, October 2, 2009

Teen Beaten To Death

A 16-year-old honor student, Derrion Albert, was beaten to death in Chicago, Illinois, for refusing to join a gang. Police have arrested four young men in connection with the murder.

Derrion Albert

As stated before, teen violence has become a massive problem all over the world, as many kids today feel hopeless about their circumstances and turn to crime as an ill-perceived way out.

RELATED ARTICLES

9 Teens Gang Rape 14-Year-Old Girl

15-Year-Old Girl Accused Of Grisly Murders

Four teens charged in fatal beating of Chicago student

CHICAGO — Darnell Myles didn't have to see the video airing on TV of Derrion Albert's slaying to find out that the neighborhood around Christian Fenger Academy High School is dangerous. Two of his children attend the school where Albert was an honor student, and they have long been "scared for their safety," he said.

On Monday, Myles drove his children, a freshman and a senior, to the far South Side school and parked outside until classes ended so he could take them home. One of his children knew Albert and saw the attack. "It was one side of town against another," he said. "It's a crazy thing."

Albert, 16, was walking home from school Thursday when he was beaten to death in a fight between two rival groups outside a community center. Four teens were charged Monday in slaying. Police identified them with the help of the cellphone video taken by an unidentified witness. The video was provided to a TV station and given to police.

In court Monday, prosecutors described the alleged attack on Albert by Silvonus Shannon, 19; Eric Carson, 16; and Eugene Riley, 18. Carson, who is charged as an adult, and Shannon are Fenger students. The three are being held without bond on charges of first-degree murder. A hearing is set for Oct. 19. Late Monday, Chicago police said a 17-year-old also was charged in the slaying. Prosecutors did not say Monday whether he will be tried as an adult...

Like the murders in October 2008 of three relatives of actress Jennifer Hudson, the Albert case is reviving concern about violence in Chicago and debate about ways to stop it...

http://www.usatoday.com