'Code Blue' program to honor teen killed at Howard High

• The program is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Seeds of Greatness Bible Church near New Castle.
• The event is free and geared toward youth in the community.

A week after the death of 16-year-old Amy Inita Joyner-Francis, friends and community members are doing all they can do make sure a similar tragedy never happens again.

Students from Howard High School of Technology and leaders at Seeds of Greatness Bible Church will host a community program for young people Friday night to talk about issues facing teens today. The program, "Code Blue: The Power of Choice," will begin at 7 p.m. at the church at 828 Frenchtown Road near New Castle.

"A lot of our children are not making very good choices," said Lisa Lewis, the wife of Pastor Jerome Lewis. "We're going to take this night to talk about choices and how choices affect not only themselves, but it really has a ripple effect. Our entire community is just grieving over this tragic death."

Lewis said the church was approached by faculty members and students who are a part of the Howard High community and have been hurting in the days after Joyner-Francis' brutal attack in the girls' restroom. Pastor Lewis has spent a lot of time at Howard over the past week offering counseling and support to students and staff.

The school, which resumed normal classes Monday following the assault, has had grief counselors and mental health staff on site all week. Private meetings were held Tuesday and Wednesday nights to inform parents what services were being offered at the school. The program Friday night is not a school-sponsored event.

Lori Hayes, a member of the Seeds of Greatness Bible Church and the student activities coordinator at Howard, worked closely with church leadership to plan the event. She spoke at a town hall Monday at Stubbs Elementary School in Wilmington and called for the community to stop pigeonholing Howard High based on one incident.

"Get off your judgment seat," she told the gathered crowd Monday night, adding that many wonderful things happen at the school every day, but most times people don't even notice.

Some of Joyner-Francis' friends are expected to speak Friday, Lewis said, but the night will also be a community conversation, including a panel discussion, special music and spoken word and poetry from students. Lewis said the church also will have food and drinks available at the free event.

"It's a night just geared for the kids," she said, "just for kids to be able to vent."

Investigators have not yet filed charges in the case despite pressure from the community. Wilmington Police Chief Bobby Cummings said he intends to charge three girls in the fight. All girls involved in the assault have been removed from school, according to Howard administrators.

The Joyner-Francis family called for an end to fake social media posts and lies Wednesday. The statement, signed by Amy's brother, Anthony Joyner, said many accounts are fake or scams.

Girl known for breaking up fights killed in attack

Law enforcement officials have said that reviewing the extensive amount of social media posts is part of the investigation, and experts say that adds considerable time to the investigative process.

The state Department of Justice said Thursday that the information pulled from social media "may provide valuable evidence" when investigating and prosecuting crimes. Posts by both those believed to be directly involved and those not directly involved but claiming to have information or repeating what they've heard must all be followed up on and fully vetted, spokesman Carl Kanefsky said.

​"Some of that information will lead to additional evidence, and some will just turn out to be rumor or speculation," Kanefsky said. "Investigators, of course, should review and vet all potentially relevant information about a crime, and if warranted, follow up with witness interviews and additional evidence gathering. In a case where there is a considerable amount of social media activity, that necessarily adds time and effort to the investigation, but that time and effort is important to provide the fullest picture of the case."

This process can take weeks and even months when working through third parties like the smartphone applications and social media platforms kids use to communicate, said Mike Harris, an investigator with the Colorado District Attorney's Office First Judicial District, who specializes in Internet crimes. To complete a thorough investigation, detectives must consider all information available, he said.

Officials have given no timeline on how soon charges could be filed.

A visitation with the family is slated for Sunday at St. Paul UAME Church on North Market Street in Wilmington. Community members can stop by between 5 and 8 p.m. All other services will be private.

Chief: 'Charges will be filed' in Howard High death

Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.

IF YOU GO

Where: Seeds of Greatness Bible Church, 828 Frenchtown Road

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Details: The event is free and intended for young people in the community.