Grieving Jonesboro brothers seek juvenile law change

Floyd and Lloyd Brooks urge Americans to "wake up" to adolescent violence

Daughter of one was killed; daughter of other wounded

March 30, 1998
Web posted at: 12:08 p.m. EST (1708 GMT)

JONESBORO, Arkansas (CNN) -- Floyd Brooks lost a daughter in last week's massacre at Westside Middle School. His twin brother, Lloyd, can be called luckier, but it's hardly the right word. His daughter was shot, too, but survived.

Now, both fathers -- horrified by the possibility that two young suspects may be set free in a matter of years -- are going public with their grief, hoping to inspire a change in the state's juvenile justice laws.

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"She was just perfect to me. I'm sure going to miss her," said Floyd Brooks, 38, referring to 11-year-old daughter Natalie, who was buried on Friday.
(169 K / 15 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

Lloyd's daughter Jenna, also 11, went to the funeral still recovering from a bullet wound that passed through her body.

As part of their crusade for justice, the brothers came to CNN. Listen as Correspondent John Holliman reports on their story of sadness that has turned to anger and determination.

CNN's John Holliman talks with the family

CNN Community:

• Message Board: Arkansas School Shooting

Related stories:

• Jonesboro students back to studies - March 30, 1998
• Jonesboro pastors urge forgiveness - March 29, 1998
• Last of Jonesboro victims laid to rest - March 28, 1998
• Jonesboro's heroine remembered - March 28, 1998
• Jonesboro buries another young shooting victim - March 28, 1998
• Jonesboro says goodbye to 2 shooting victims - March 27, 1998
• Arkansas boys won't face federal charges - March 27, 1998
• Parents of shooting suspect among those asking 'why?' - March 27, 1998

Related sites:

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

• The National Organization for Victim Assistance
• Disaster Relief from DisasterRelief.org
  • Blood Donors Line Up in Jonesboro
• Westside Fund
• St. Bernards Regional Medical Center
• The Jonesboro Sun
• CNN Affiliate: KATV News, Little Rock, Ark.
• City of Jonesboro, Arkansas
• Jonesboro Public Schools
• Arkansas Department of Education
• State of Arkansas
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Children and Firearms

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

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