Mother of boy shot near Alger Middle School asks district for answers

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The mother of a 13-year-old who was shot near Alger Middle School is pushing for answers about what happened.

Monday night, the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board held a special meeting. Among those in the crowd was 13-year-old Javeon Childrey , whose mother Bianca Bridgeforth spoke about the May 21 shooting that sent her son to the hospital.

“It really ain’t no words to explain how disgusted I am on behalf of whoever is in charge of these kids, like the safety,” Bridgeforth said.

Bridgeforth said the gunfire that occurred in a restroom outside the school left Javeon deaf in one ear and blind in one eye.

A juvenile is facing charges for the shooting including careless discharge of a firearm causing injury and larceny of a firearm, but the calls for accountability didn’t end there.

“Nobody in the system is caring about these kids, when they coming, when they leaving, if they’re getting help mentally,” Bridgeforth said. “I’ve been complaining for the last two years and now my baby is shot. I’ve been that same concerned parent for two years, 6th and 7th grade.”

One advocate is urging the district to suspend Alger Middle School’s principal until the details surrounding the shooting are cleared up.

“School is coming back up and we don’t feel comfortable with him overseeing any children at Alger Middle School or any school,” youth advocate Jermar Sterling said.

Bridgeforth is also pushing for any video footage related to the incident to be released.

“If it’s nothing wrong and y’all really care about my baby or any kids around here, just release the video. It’s nothing to hide,” Bridgeforth said.

During the meeting, there was plenty of support for Bridgeforth from the community, who also shared various concerns about the district.

“I can’t imagine, my grandson goes to GRPS, I can’t imagine,” one attendee said.

GRPS said the district has added alarms to exterior doors at Alger Middle. School leaders say they’ll also continue to evaluate when to use metal detectors at entrances.

“Thanks to our dedicated staff and the safety protocols that we have in place, our schools remain among the safest places in our community for our children,” a statement sent last week said. “We strive every day to create places that support our scholars’ emotional, behavioral, mental, and physical health.”

Another big topic during Monday night’s school board meeting was the departure of GRPS Director of Communications and External Affairs Leon Hendrix , with multiple people questioning his exit.

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