As Crystal Community Mourns Slain Boy, Tensions Remain High
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- For the last month the story of Barway Collins has captured the attention of people who didn't even know him.
Hundreds gathered Saturday -- a week after his body was found in the Missisippi River.
What happened to the fourth grader from Crystal was a mystery -- he disappeared outside his apartment after getting out of his school van. His father is now charged with killing Barway.
Investigators say there's cell phone evidence that puts Pierre Collins at the spot along the river where Barway's body was found. They also say he took out a $30,000 life insurance policy on his son.
In the same spot where Barway Collins was last seen alive, friends, family and strangers gathered to plant new life
They left flowers in front of an apartment complex where a dark story began one month ago.
Even with Barway found and Pierre Collins arrested and charged with his murder, the sadness of what's happened deepens and the anger some in the community feel is alive.
Some fellow members of the Liberian community yelled accusations at Yamah Collins -- Pierre Collins wife-- although police haven't named her as a suspect.
She sat quietly by Pastor Harding Smith's side until the shouting directed at her began.
"We also need to walk a tight rope, and know that there is something called due process," Pastor Smith said. "Let us not be judges, because God is the ultimate judge."
A community of friends, family, and strangers are still fighting through the darkness. With so many questions remaining, they tried to hold on to happy memories of a little boy who had a bright smile.
As Pastor Smith described Barway, he was "a young man that almost had a chance."
The pastor says they are still working on raising money for a funeral for Barway, but the boy's mother may not make it to town from Liberia, afterall.
He says he still doesn't know how much more money is needed.