No Gran Torino For Brutally Slain Chicago Teen Derrion Albert

The family of Derrion Albert, the 16-year-old fatally beaten Thursday in an after-school mob melee in Roseland, struggled Friday to understand how their honor roll student's life could have ended in such violence.

"Derrion has never been in a fight in his life," said Joe Walker, Derrion's grandfather who raised him. "He never raised his voice. Not in 16 years have I had one day of trouble."

Walker broke down several times speaking about his grandson, proudly showing off the awards he received at Christian Fenger Academy High School for excellent attendance and being on the honor roll. Derrion had just started his junior year.

"We were crazy about him," Walker said. "He was the type of grandson everybody wished for."

T-Awannda Piper, a youth worker at the Agape Community Center in the 300 block of West 111th Street, witnessed the brawl. She said the fight started with about a dozen high school students, then quickly escalated to about 100, about 3 p.m. Thursday.

"They had sticks; they were fighting with their hands; they were taking off their shirts and throwing them on the ground," she said. "I saw [Derrion] get hit twice with a stick."

Derrion was pronounced dead at 6:17 p.m. at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, the Cook County medical examiner's office said.

He died of cerebral injuries and blunt head trauma from assault, the medical examiner's office said.

His grandfather said he spent most evenings doing schoolwork on his computer. On the walls of the computer room, cheerful family photos surrounded a handwritten list of "Affirmations for Living" that Derrion wrote, Walker said.

"I would surround myself with people who bring out the best in me," the list reads. "I would rid myself of the negativity in my life, including friends and significant others. I would do something nice for someone, just because.

What began as a makeshift memorial for brutally slain honor student Derrion Albert teetered toward angry chaos Monday outside Fenger High School.

About 250 neighbors, Fenger graduates and self-proclaimed community activists gathered, with many shouting at each other during the vigil called in response to the Sept. 24 mob beating that took the 16-year-old's life.

One neighborhood activist calling herself "Queen Sister" chanted through a bullhorn and led a group of people to the school's front doors, demanding to be let in. At one point, the group -- apparently angry at a local politician for not doing enough to prevent community violence -- pounded on the doors and began shouting, "You're a killer!"

Some people stood nose-to-nose, arguing over whether the gathering should be in memory of Derrion or a protest of the violence that killed him.

"The mayor is out fighting for the Olympics, and our youth are here fighting for their lives!" Queen Sister bellowed.

Others watched the screaming and name-calling with a look of numb disbelief.