Teen gets 26 years in Chicago beating death

January 22, 2011|Associated Press

CHICAGO — A Chicago teenager who pleaded guilty yesterday to participating in the beating death of a high school honor student that was caught on video was sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Eric Carson, 17, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the September 2009 death of 15-year-old Derrion Albert. Carson, who was 16 at the time, was captured on videotape hitting Albert in the back of the head with a large board. The video shows that after collapsing, Albert was beaten and stomped by several other teens.

Carson is the third person convicted in connection with the attack. A 15-year-old, who was tried as a juvenile, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to a juvenile detention center until his 21st birthday.

Silvonus Shannon, 20, was also convicted of first-degree murder and faces up to 60 years in prison.