Coaster Photo
Friends of Tylik Pugh leave notes and balloons at the Sheffield Market on Bangs Avenue in Asbury Park near where he was shot.
By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
On Monday five police officers were stationed outside Asbury Park High School as students were dismissed on the first day back after a four-day weekend following the shooting death of Tylik Pugh last week.
School officials made the decision to close school on Thursday and Friday fearing reprisals for the Oct. 18 killing.
Students exiting the building Monday seemed mostly unfazed by the previous week’s events.
Asked to comment on the shooting most declined and said that school was “normal” on the first day back.
One parent, Darryl Norflett, was waiting outside the school for his freshman son and said of the recent shootings in town, “It’s bad, it’s out of hand. I lived in Asbury Park all my life and we didn’t have this gangs beating up people.”
Norflett, a 1974 graduate of Asbury Park High School, attributed the violent behavior of today’s teenagers to the media’s influence.
“They see rappers on TV the fast money….they think going to jail is cool, then when they get there, they start crying ‘take me home.’”
He added, “They don’t know how to separate real stuff and stuff on TV.”
Norflett expressed a sense of hopelessness about the situation, but said putting more police in the schools and neighborhoods is about the only way to stop the violence.
“Have the cops here, but it’s a shame,” he said.
Norflett said his son is an honor student and member of the chess club.
“He’s a good kid…..for now anyway,” he said, adding that his son has not had any problems with gang-related activities at the high school.
But he said his son’s favorite color is blue, the color of the Crips gang, and he may be buying him some other colors to wear to school.
Student Joseph Hernandez said the school day on Monday was “normal,” but said of the killing, “It’s crazy, you see him one day and the next day not.”
He added that other students talked of the shooting during the school day.
Maria Gutierrez, said the day was normal, but admitted to being shaken by the shooting.
“Yeah teens, I don’t ever see them die or nothing.”
Deborah Burns, who has worked as a security officer in the district for many years, greeted several of the students outside, hugging and kissing them.
She currently works at the Alternative Middle School, and said the students there “were fine.”
But she expressed frustration at the number of shootings in the city this year.
“All I know is that these shootings took the lives of our students. This past year has been horrible, people don’t realize the families of these children are left behind to deal with this. Somebody needs to reach out and help the families they can’t go home and hug their children.”
Burns said she knows all of the children at the high school, having worked at the middle school level for years.
“I know all of them, it’s heart wrenching.”
At the Sheffield Market on Bangs Avenue, a memorial to Pugh was assembled as mourners left signed posters, photos, candles, balloons and stuffed toys.
The memorial is near the middle school, where the shooting occurred and several children and teens gathered Monday afternoon to read the condolence messages and leave their own.
Several written messages were from relatives. One read “Tylik, you will always be in my thoughts and heart. R.I.P. Love, Auntie Tina.
Another said, “Tylik, I love you so, so, so much Your sister, Teosha.
Read more about your town by picking up The Coaster at your local newsstand or subscribe today.
Published every Thursday.
