Suburban Gangland

Teens Outside Baltimore Seem Just As Susceptible As Their Urban Peers To Rivalries That Escalate Into Crime

"We're very concerned with middle schools - 12- and 13-year-old kids who are susceptible to all kinds of influences," McMahon said.

Bullied at school

Christopher Jones hardly seemed to be someone who would wind up as the target of a gang.

A high school freshman, he enjoyed ice skating, often spending time at the Piney Orchard Ice Arena. He played baseball and ice hockey, and was a fan of the Washington Redskins.

But he had begun to endure bullying at school. His mother, Jenny Adkins, called Arundel High School to complain. At the end of April, Christopher transferred to South River High School to escape the bullying, his mother has said.

School officials in Arundel have been quiet about what happened in the classroom, noting federal laws.

"We routinely receive information from police about incidents that happen in the community, and there are times when appropriate disciplinary action is taken against students for such 'community offenses,' particularly when they endanger the safety of other students in a school," county schools spokesman Bob Mosier said in an e-mail.

"Likewise, schools will often provide police officers with information that has been brought to their attention through students or other means. It is a collaborative relationship that helps to address issues both inside the schoolhouse and outside it.

"As we become aware of students who may be involved in gangs or similar groups, police are notified immediately."

Teare, at the legislative hearing, said police had "very little" information about the bullying that Christopher experienced at school.

"There was no communication," Teare said. "The Police Department was not made aware of why Christopher Jones left the school."

'Mom, I'm fine'

It wasn't just at school that Christopher had to worry. The two teenagers charged in his death live just blocks away, hanging out at the same pools and parks as he did.

A week before he died, Christopher was at the Wellfleet Pool with his girlfriend, Giselle Lynn, 15, a South River High school student.

Christopher pointed out a group of boys standing outside the chain-link fence. "Those are the guys that want to jump me," Christopher told her.

The next weekend, Christopher's mother, Jenny Adkins, was at the same pool. She saw a group of boys she thought were gang members. About 3:30 p.m. May 30, she called her son.