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Students mourn classmate's death

Students at Tri-Cities High School spent the first day of school mourning the death of classmate.
Seventeen-year-old Abdul Shabazz was hit by a car while walking home on Montrose Drive on Aug. 8 according to the Georgia State Patrol. A GSP spokesperson said Shabazz was in the roadway and the driver, whom GPS determined was not at fault, did not see him.
But Shabazz's parents disagree.
"She should have been arrested," said Abdul's mother, Yolanda Shabazz."I don't understand. I'll never understand."
Abdul's father, Qadir Shabazz, said his son wasn't in the roadway and was walking on the curb because there are no sidewalks in his neighborhood.
"The way that I saw my son on the ground, I can't see where a speed limit of 25 mph would have done that," he said.
Qadir also said the accident happened in a lighted intersection.
"The only way the driver couldn't have seen him is by not paying attention because it happened almost under the street light," he said.
Abdul was about to begin his senior year of high school and grief counselors were at the Tri-Cities High School campus to help students cope.
Students said he was incredibly intelligent and his death is a shock.
"I was close to him, so I was hurt, I was really hurt," said student Rayanna Smith.
Teachers said Abdul was a delight to have in class.
"Just had so much to add to the class. He was awesome," said teacher Jennifer Favors.
Principal Dan Sims says Abdul was on the debate team, was an avid skateboarder and inspired other students.
"He was going to figure out something big that no one else had figured out," he said. "Just unfortunate that we lost him."
Classmates are making ribbons that will be sold in Abdul's honor and the proceeds will go to help his family with funeral expenses.