LOWERCASEWASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan will travel to Chicago on Wednesday to meet with students, community members and officials from the high school attended by a 16-year-old honor student who was beaten to death last week, officials said Thursday.
Police called the student, Derrion Albert, an innocent victim who got caught up in the midst of a fight between two rival factions at Christian Fenger High School. He was killed in a horrific beating that was captured on video. Four teenagers have been charged with first-degree murder in his death.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the administration officials will discuss school violence. He said the crime has captured the concern of President Barack Obama.
“Obviously, it’s of great concern to the president, as somebody who … lives in Chicago, but would and should be a concern for every American,” Gibbs said. “This isn’t a Chicago problem; this is violence. Youth violence is a problem throughout our country.” Because it was captured on cellphone video, the slaying has drawn wide attention. Gibbs condemned it Wednesday as a “heinous crime.”
