FAIRFAX DISTRICT : Song, Video Pay Tribute to Student Slain in Class

A rap song and video called “Ban the Bullets” premiered at a Los Angeles high school Thursday, where a 16-year-old boy was shot to death by a classmate nearly 16 months ago.

The song, named for the coalition that sponsored its creation, was performed live at Fairfax High School by Inner City Poets.

“I just feel that this is a good thing, because a lot of this violence has to stop,” said Major Boy, a member of the group. “My sisters were almost killed last weekend in a drive-by shooting, but luckily, thank God, the bullets missed them. I just thank God for that. But so many kids aren’t so lucky.”

Fairfax football player Demetrius Rice was one of the unlucky. He was shot and killed Jan. 21, 1993, by another 16-year-old in Rice’s English class. The youth had brought a handgun to school in his backpack. The shooting at the school horrified students, teachers and parents. The event was not just a tribute to Rice. Organizers also paid homage to Go Matsuura and Takuma Ito, college students from Japan who were shot to death in a Ralphs supermarket parking lot in San Pedro on March 25.