Fenger High School Parents Wrestle With Student's Killing

Days after the mob beating of 16-year-old Fenger High School student Derrion Albert, parents and community members are grappling with his killing.

ambi: police helicopter

Police helicopters flew over Fenger at dismissal yesterday, and squad cars drove up and down the surrounding blocks. The line of cars with parents waiting to pick up their children was longer than usual. Cherie Barnes was there for her son.

BARNES: Me and other parents have been sitting around trying to figure this out: What makes a child get to that point, where you’re just so filled with rage that you will beat another child to death?

Joeanne Rankine’s daughter, a senior, stayed home yesterday, upset and fearful.

RANKINE: I just tell her, try to hang in there. I’ll be up there. Go. You’re doing good, you made it to senior. Just try to stay focused and don’t think about that. Just pray and just keep going.

A group of ministers is holding a community meeting tonight. Fenger school officials will be there.