Mar 9, 2008 10:10 pm US/Central
Teen Charged In Murder At Crane H.S.
15-Year-Old Held Without Bond; 18 Students Killed So Far This Year
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Bond was denied Sunday for a teenager charged in the shooting death of a Crane High School junior on Friday near the school. A second student was beaten with a golf club on the school steps in what police are calling gang-related incidents.
DeVonte Smith, 15, has been charged as an adult with one count of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Ruben Ivy, 18, one block away from the school Friday afternoon, shortly after class let out. During a bond hearing Sunday afternoon, a judge ordered Smith held without bail.
It was a deadly week for Chicago's students. Four were killed last week. Eighteen have been killed so far this school year, most of
them shot.
"We got to get the criminals and guns off the streets," said Pastor Johnny Miller of Mt. Vernon Church.
Miller and other community activists say youth violence is a problem that isn't going away without change.
"We're
gonna talk about funding, we're gonna talk about that, we're gonna talk
about security, beefing it up, getting people in that can make a
difference in these schools," said Johnny Harris of the Major Adams
Community Committee.
"(The) tragedy at Crane High School is a
stark reminder we've got to take guns off the street," Chicago Police
Dept. Supt. Jody Weis said at an anti-violence rally on Saturday.
"We've got to work harder for that. We've got to continue to keep the
pressure on."
Twenty-four public school students were shot and
killed last year. The number so far this year is 16. The mother of one
of those victims says the time to act is now.
"Our children
should not talk about our goal is to go to the store. That breaks my
heart. We have far too many children talking about 'if I grow up,' not
'when I grow up,'" said CPS CEO Arne Duncan.
Meanwhile, wearing solemn faces and walking right past reporters, family and friends of Devonte Smith left Cook County Court Sunday after learning Smith will not be released on bail.
"I have no comment at this time," said Smith's mother.
She chose not to talk about the crime her son is accused of committing, just a block from Crane High School, where he's a sophomore. Police say it's there he got into a fight with a fellow student, Ruben Ivy…then allegedly shot the 18-year-old junior. Defense attorney Mable Taylor has been assigned to defend Smith.
"He's a nice kid. He goes to school. You do have problems in school. There have been fights," Taylor said.
Taylor says Smith was arrested at his home and didn't resist arrest. Police were able to track him down because the shooting was captured on surveillance cameras that surround the school, and took place in front of crowd of students.
"Is he scared? He has to be -- this is first-degree murder carrying 20 to 60 years," Taylor said.
Ivy's mother, Emily Green, spoke to CBS 2 Sunday. She said, "You did the crime, you do the time."
"They caught him and everything -- the one they said did it," Green said.
Friends called Green immediately after the shooting. She says her son died in her arms.
"I'm trying to hold on, but instead I'm just crying. It's like an empty spot in me -- like somebody ripped my heart out. It just hurts so bad. It's hard to explain. It took a lot out of me," Green said. "Why, why you'd do it?"
The shooting happened Friday afternoon outside Crane High School at 2245 W. Jackson Blvd.
Police say the shooting may be gang-related, but Taylor says Smith hasn't given her much information or talked about a motive.
"I just came down Western and I seen my friend running, crying saying 'my friend just got shot," said witness Iona Joyce.
Another student was beaten with a golf club on the school's front steps. The beating victim is in good condition, police said.
Students say it happened when a fight that started inside Crane continued outside.
"A flock of people came out here, 60 of them, in a rush," said Crane student Quincy Rodgers.
"It happened so quick… I can't really tell you how it really happened because it was so messed up, so many people everywhere," said Crane student Douglas Young.
Authorities also say there was a police presence around the school at the time that these incidents occurred.
"This is another example of guns being out there in the hands of individuals, especially and unfortunately in this case in the hands of juveniles," said First Deputy Supt. Jackson.
Smith is back in court next week.
Green says her son will be buried next week.
CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Celebrity Watcher: Real Or Fake?
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
