Derrion Albert
Video: Teen Attacked, Beaten to Death in Melee
Help Police Find Derrion Albert’s KillersUpdated: Sunday, 27 Sep 2009, 8:18 AM CDT
Published : Saturday, 26 Sep 2009, 9:00 PM CDTBy Darlene Hill, FOX Chicago News
This is the hard lesson some students at Fenger High School have to deal with after a day of learning. For them it’s a hard lesson of reality on the streets.Thursday after school, two rival gangs got into a fight three blocks from the high school.
In all four students were beaten in that melee — one was released from the hospital Friday morning.
While police continue their investigation, some students say they don’t want to go back to Fenger next week.
Rival gang members have been fighting for a month — and each time one of their fellow classmates is injured.
No knives and no guns were used in Thursday’s fight. Just fists, feet and boards.
Derrion Albert, 16, was struck in the head by one of those boards.
Seconds later the honor student hit the pavement. That’s when witnesses, who are other high school students, say gangbangers began stomping on and punching Albert.
Derrion Albert’s mom said witnesses told her he was “trying to help another student and kind of got mixed in with the crowd of the fight and he was hit.”
A senior who witnessed the whole thing says the melee lasted less than five minutes.
The video shows students and workers from a nearby community center rescue the boy — but many out there knew it was too late.
Surveillance videos are mounted on businesses in the Roseland area, but Chicago Police say those don’t show faces.
Police have a copy of this footage and it may help identify Albert’s killers.
But while that investigation goes on, students say they will remember Derrion Albert as a good kid. A quiet, smart kid with no gang affiliation. But just a kid who may not have had enough street smarts to go another way.
If you can identify any of the people allegedly involved in the death of Derrion Albert, please call Area Two of the Chicago Police Dept. That number is 312-747-8272.
I just witnessed a murder. Thirty minutes ago I was going crazy with my friends on twitter laughing and carrying on, oblivious to the #1 Twitter trending topic. I went to a website and saw a thread made about a beating death. I realized the name on the trending topic was that of the victim named in the thread. I read all the posts and comments and my heart felt so heavy. I didnt want to watch it but I felt like I needed to. A lot of sick things have been shown to me over the internet but nothing so graphic, brutal and evil. These KIDS, these CHILDREN beat a child to death and for what? Because he tried to help another student? Really? I live in Canada, and have never been personally exposed to gang violence and for that I thank my mother and the good Lord above. I’m lucky. But I’m not so naive or sheltered to know that it exists – however, I didnt need nor want nor wish to see this. The brutality in which these blows and punches and kicks were delivered shakes me to core. To the point where my entire mood switched off immediately. I couldn’t smile anymore. I couldn’t laugh anymore. I feel sick. I just witnessed a 16 yr old child get killed. This is messing with me and I dont live anywhere near him, and I sure as heck didn’t know him but i feel so BAD. I urge anyone reading this blog right now to PLEASE contact the Chicago Police Department (the number is listed above) if you have ANY information. Bring these murderers to justice. They beat this kid to death. Don’t stand idly by. PLEASE. Kids killing each other! This has to STOP. When will people LEARN!?
My prayers are with Derrion Albert’s family tonight. I pray for your strength. I pray for God to protect you. I pray for those students that witnessed this. How I felt in the comfort of my home watching cant in ANY way compare to what they witnessed BEING there.
God bless you, Derrion Albert. May you rest in peace.
Corprah Lanfrey 