DeKalb DA Eyes Charges In Child's Suicide

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- The DeKalb County District Attorney is looking into the suicide of an 11 year-old boy to see if criminal charges can be filed on his behalf.

The attorney for Jaheem Herrera's family says he's encouraged by the DA's fact-finding effort, and is offering his help to their investigation.

As they prepare to fly their little boy home to his native St. Croix for burial, the family has one question. Will there ever be justice for Jaheem?

DeKalb County DA Gwen Keyes Fleming said she cannot promise that anyone will be prosecuted.

"Really what we're trying to get an understanding on what the law is and what the facts are, and see how the two merge and how any kind of criminal activity can be put together from the two -- and right now I can't answer that until we look into it a little bit more," Keyes Fleming said.

She said she will need the dates and times of bullying incidents at Jaheem's school -- along with the names of anyone involved. Questions attorneys for the family may be able to answer.

"I know it's not a formal investigation yet, but we believe that once she looks into it, in Georgia there are certain laws that call someone to be a mandatory reporter in incidents of crime and we believe that there was at least one crime perpetrated in this bullying incident," said the family's attorney, Gerald Griggs.

While criminal liability may be a long shot, civil liability for the little boy's suicide may not be. Especially if the school failed to report any acts of violence against him or others.

"Many parents have contacted us with issues that occurred at that school and reporting it to the administration and not seeming to get a response. So at this point we're still gathering that information and preparing it and be willing to give it to the district attorney's office if she wants to look at it," Griggs said.

The DeKalb County School System is also continuing its investigation.

Meanwhile, the Jaheem Herrera Memorial Fund has been set up at Wachovia Bank to help with the cost of the burial.

Griggs said they plan to release their legal plans May 9 -- at a rally in the little boy's memory.