32 Years In Prison For Another Convict In Derrion Albert Murder
CHICAGO (CBS) -- One of the final two defendants in the murder of Fenger High School honor student Derrion Albert has been sentenced to 32 years in prison.
Eugene Riley, 20, was convicted in May of taking part in the 2009 mob attack and beating. He is the one who appears on the infamous cell phone video of the attack slamming Albert on the head with a large wooden board.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Lisa Fielding reports
Podcast
Albert was attacked as he walked home past the Agape Community Center, 342 W. 111th St., when he was caught in the middle of the fight.
Teens who lived in "The Ville" neighborhood around Fenger, 11220 S. Wallace St., were fighting with teens who were bused in from Altgeld Gardens near 130th Street.
Riley claimed that he only hit Albert because he was trying to defend his younger brother, who was knocked unconscious with a brick moments later. His assistant public defender, David McMahon, said Riley, then 18, made a "mistake" and "never meant" for Albert to die.
But a jury disagreed and convicted him of first-degree murder.
Four others have been convicted in the beating, and three have been sentenced.
Another defendant, Silvonus Shannon, 20, was also sentenced to 32 years in prison for his part in the beating. A 15-year-old codefendant was sentenced to prison until he's 21 on Jan. 19, while Eric Carson pleaded guilty to the murder on Jan. 21 and was sentenced to 26 years in prison.
A final defendant, Lapoleon Colbert, 20, was convicted in June but has yet to be sentenced.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
