Chicago’s Blame Game – CNN Special Investigations Unit - CNN.com Blogs


Police say nearly half of the student killings in the Chicago Public School district this school year are unsolved. Some people blame the police. Many blame the prosecutors. Others blame young community members for not speaking up.

While working on this report, I spoke with many parents who told me that witnesses in their slain child’s case were not coming forward with key information that could help lead to an arrest of the assailant. These witnesses, in some cases, were friends of the victims. No clues – no conviction. There is no justice. And the murderers are free to kill again. All because there is an unwritten rule in this community that teaches people to mind your own business and keep your mouth shut.



Well, I cannot pretend to understand what it’s like to see a friend shot and killed. I cannot pretend to understand what it’s like to be a teenager who fears getting shot on my way to school each morning. But Patricia Brown understands. Brown’s daughter, 17-year-old-daughter Patrice was gunned down in her own neighborhood in 2007. Brown says there were witnesses. She is convinced someone knows something. But no one will speak up. She says she understands why these young witnesses won’t come forward – she says they likely fear retaliation – they are afraid. But she says people need to be more afraid of the killers who are roaming the streets, free to kill again.



Brown wants justice. And that is what the other parents I talked to want as well. Justice equals power. But unless the kids who witnessed these crimes step forward with information, there will be no justice, and the killers will be the only ones with power.
Do you think these young witnesses have good reason to fear coming forward with information? Beyond possible retaliation, why would these kids not want to identify their friend’s killer?

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I think fear is a big part of it. People who stand around and watch a crime take note of who else is standing there watching. People might not be talking to cops, but they are talking to each other and they blab amongst themselves who likely snitched on so and so. Just like in the witch hunt days, you need only be rumored to have said something and a lynch mob could come knocking at your door. However, with all of the ways to anonymously help out, I can't understand going on with my life, checking MySpace, texting my friends, and hanging out in la la land, without thinking of how to help Mrs. So and So stop crying every day. This mess is ridiculous. I'm so glad for people who do the right thing; it's like no one is imagining that happening to their sister or brother and how they would want someone to call and say "it was___"
So sad though. As far as blame, honestly, these killers were bred somewhere. The people who brought them here have the burden on responsibility with how they turn out. Some of the kids don't stand a chance with the parents they have and the neighborhods they have to call home.

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