Mar 10, 2008 5:19 pm US/Central
Sad Return To School For Students At Crane
Students Say Gang Violence Plagues West Side High School
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
A major police presence greeted students at Crane High School Monday, on the first school day after one student was beaten on the steps of the school and another shot and killed a block away.
The community is trying to band together and move forward.
There were police cars, officers and even SWAT team members on stand-by at the school. As CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports, Chicago police weren't taking any chances Monday, but students and parents say Friday's disturbance is indicative of a bigger problem at Crane.
"There usually is a heavy police presence here, but we are even taking additional measures," said Commander Ronald Sodini of the 12th District. "I wouldn't give you specifics because obviously we don't want to reveal our tactics or how long they will be in place, but we are taking extra measures."
A 15-year-old Crane student was arrested for 18-year-old Ruben Ivy's murder, by all accounts fueling an already tense situation inside the West Side school.
Police said the shooter was in a gang and that several fights broke out that day, including a boy beaten with a golf club.
DeVonte Smith was charged as an adult with first-degree murder and has been ordered held without bail.
Although police said that Smith is a gang member, Ivy was not.
"This school been fighting all year, ever since I been here my freshman year," said Crane senior Michelle Head. "I been fighting at this school, because of what? Because of where I'm from."
Head says it stems from friction between students from two different neighborhoods. Her mother says Crane's principal does nothing to help.
"There's a lot of violence up in this school that could have been prevented before this baby got killed. All of this could be prevented if the principal did his job," Arcola Montgomery said.
The principal didn't return calls from CBS 2.
While dozens of Chicago police officers kept watch, many said they were anxious about returning to school.
Shimanda Corbin said, "I don't really want to be here, it shouldn't happen here, it shouldn't feel like this."
Latonya Brown said, "It's crazy people can't come to school, it's not safe."
Candice McKelvin said, "Everyday this stuff happens, but that's sad and it shouldn't. It's common to everybody but it shouldn't be common because nothing like this should be happening, especially not at a high school."
Local activists and Ald. Bob Fioretti know something has to change. In this case, Fioretti wonders if the violence could have been prevented.
"When a young man who has over 15 arrests is the offender here, why wasn't there a flag that somebody could have said 'let's help this kid out. We've got a problem here?'" Fioretti said.
Chicago police stopped and searched six teens who were hanging out across the street Monday morning; each received a truancy citation.
Police Capt. Hootan Behmandeji said, "We want kids to get to school safe, when they're traveling."
There were more parents escorting kids to school than usual on Monday. Grief counselors have been meeting with students and faculty to start the school day.
Chicago Public Schools spokesperson Mike Vaughn says about 12 police squads and a dozen security officers were there Friday when the violence broke out. He says school officials are meeting Monday about what more -- if anything -- needs to be done at Crane.
CBS 2's Joanie Lum and Dana Kozlov contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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