Over a Thousand Mourners Attend Derrion Albert's Funeral

More than a thousand mourners packed a South Side Chigago church on Saturday. Sadly, they were there for Derrion Albert's funeral. Albert was a 16-year-old honor student with no gang affiliations. He was an innocent bystander who was killed in violence between two gang factions of students from Christian Fenger Academy High School.

Derrion Albert's funeral attracted not just family and friends, but officials and community leaders, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson. His violent death on Sept. 24th was captured on video, and has drawn national attention.

Four have been arrested in his killing, and police are seeking three more. Those arrested are Eugene Bailey, 18, who police say threw the "killer blow," Silvonus Shannon, 19, Eugene Riley, 18, and Eric Carson, 16.

It's been reported that it was the youngest of the four, Eric Carson, who was allegedly from the gang faction near Fenger, which was the first to hit Derrion Albert with a railroad tie. Albert then fell, and was additionally hit by more railroad tie blows and kicks, as well. A $6,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to more arrests in the Derrion Albert's beating death.

The story has become big, so big that Barack Obama is sending some important people to Chicago next week. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Attorney General Eric Holder will visit on Thursday to talk with officials from the school, the students and the community about school violence.

Before Derrion Albert's funeral, Jesse Jackson spoke to reporters.

"The killings keep coming -- one need not to be guilty to be killed in this war zone. We must declare a state of emergency. We have an obligation to prepare for our children safe passage."

He's right. Otherwise, Derrion Albert's funeral won't be the last one we see.