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Posted: Friday, 06 November 2009 5:17PM
'Main offenders' in Fenger beating now charged
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CHICAGO (STNG) --With the arrest of a 14-year-old, Chicago Police believe they have charged the four “main offenders who struck the critical blows” that killed Fenger High student Derrion Albert. But they’re still looking for three more.
Police Supt. Jody Weis said the 14-year-old charged Friday with first-degree murder struck Derrion in the face with his fist, “causing him to fall.” The juvenile was placed at the scene by several eyewitnesses, who chose to come forward only after 18-year-old Eugene Bailey was charged and released.
The boy, who appeared in court Friday, was ordered held in custody at the juvenile detention center after being charged with three counts of murder and one count of mob action, according to Cook County State's Attorney's office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton. His preliminary hearing will be Dec. 1.
Unlike two of the other offenders who have given videotaped confessions, the 14-year-old gave no statement to police.
“It wasn’t until Bailey was charged that this community began reaching out to police to assist in the investigation. Until that moment, there was nothing but silence,” Weis told a City Hall news conference Friday.
“There were people out there who knew who the right person was and, when they recognized that the wrong person had been charged … there was a sense of urgency for people to come forward and say, ‘This is not one of the killers.’… I thank the community for coming forward. I do wish they would have come forward sooner.”
Police believe that the three offenders still on the loose “kicked or punched” 16-year-old Derrion and kids on the scene of the brawl know who they are.
In addition to what Mayor Daley likes to call the “code of silence” among the community at large, Weis acknowledged a strong sense among young people everywhere not to “snitch.”
It’s a sensitive subject the superintendent broaches “every time I get a chance” to talk to young people, he said.
“I say, ‘Listen, I know there’s a strong force out there that’s keeping you from coming forward. But, please understand: Today’s victims will be tomorrow’s offenders,’ ” Weis said.
Noting that 90 percent of offenders and 80 percent of victims have criminal records, he said, “It’s a circle of violence. If you really care about someone who you know may be involved in a crime, say something. Worst-case scenario, they might go to jail. But you may keep them alive. And you may protect them from ruining their life if they are offenders trying to…extract some street justice.”
Albert's Sept. 24 beating death was captured on a horrific videotape replayed around the world.
Police have stressed that his death outside Agape Community Center, 342 W. 111th St., was not gang-related. He was killed during a brawl between students from Altgeld Gardens and a neighborhood closer to Fenger known as the “Ville.”
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Sun-Times Media Wire Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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