Boy Accused of Cutting Down Memorial Tree
A 12-year-old boy who was arrested on charges of chopping down a tree planted in memory of a youngster told police he was angry about getting caught skateboarding on campus, authorities said.
“The act may have been in retaliation for being kicked off campus by some janitors,” Police Lt. Bill Bogner said this week. The 5-foot Douglas fir planted four years ago in memory of 4-year-old Al Jimenez was chopped down Dec. 21.
Al was a student at the school when he died of a brain tumor.
The Elmhurst Elementary School student was arrested at the school for investigation of misdemeanor vandalism and released later in the day to his guardian, Bogner said.
Al’s grandparents decorated the tree year-round: a heart-shaped garland for Valentine’s Day, cardboard bunnies for Easter, paper flags for the Fourth of July, plastic pumpkins for Halloween and ornaments for Christmas.
Students watered Al’s tree, as they called it, and planted flowers around it. Sometimes, teachers took their classes out to sit near the tree.
The school has not decided whether to replace the tree.
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