Chicago Youth Murders Spur National Action

A shocking video of a group of kids beating 16-year-old Derrion Albert to death in an after-school melee was the fifth student death in just six weeks of this new school year.

"What happened to Derrion is barbaric, it was barbaric," anti-violence advocate Diane Latiker said.

Photos: Derrion Albert Beating Death Video

It's opened the nation's eyes to Chicago's youth murders, reports CBS News correspondent Randall Pinkston.

In each of the last three years a classroom of children has been killed - from 27 in 2006 to a record 37 in 2008. And there were 500 children injured by gunshots last year alone.

Seventeen-year-old Jermaine Fareed, who walks to school past makeshift memorials, worries about surviving the day.

He says fights break out in his school about four times a week.

Two U.S. Cabinet secretaries joined city officials in Chicago today to highlight national concern over youth violence.

"To those who seek to lay blame, I challenge you to ask yourself, what have you done," Education Secretary Arne Duncan said.

The Justice Department is pledging $16 million to boost school security around the country - a half million for Chicago.

Government: 60% of U.S. Kids Exposed to Violence

The city is also using $30 million in federal stimulus funds to identify and help 1,200 children who are most at risk of getting shot.

The students from 38 schools will be selected based on: poor academic performance, family environment and location - focusing on areas where other deaths have occurred.

Parents like Leslie Carthan are trying to fill the void, escorting students to and from school.

Until now, adult promises haven't given kids much hope.

Pinkston asked Jermaine Fareed if there is anything police or schools can do to make kids feel safe.

"Not really," Fareed said.

A sobering thought that the city knows it has to change.