JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville mother still searching for healing after the loss of her son three years ago is bringing attention to the pain her family experiences as students make drill raps about his murder.
“My daughter’s been experiencing a lot of bullying from other students, and it’s along the lines of just picking on students whose loved ones have already passed on,” Renata Frank said.
Frank’s son, Kaleb Floyd, was shot and killed in 2022 at the intersection of Duval Station and Starratt Road.
Frank said the students would rap about the murders and rehearse the songs in class, which would trigger her daughter.
Drill rap is a genre of music where artists often talk about real conflicts and shootings. It has become a key element of recent trials in Duval County, including Jacksonville rapper Ksoo, who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
The pain triggered by the songs extends beyond the classroom — affecting the entire family.
“We’ve had to reorganize and redo things in our home to cater to a lot of the bullying,” Franks said. “We would spend a lot more time doing things together as a family, talking more about it, mental health, therapy, things like that, just to try to ensure that they can navigate these hard times.”
Clinical psychologist Dr. Justin D’Arienzo says repeated exposure to violence in music and social media is shaping how kids handle conflict — and each other.
“We’ve been researching this for about 50 years, and we know that watching violent media does have a moderate effect, more significantly for younger kids,” D’Arienzo said. “It becomes more complex when you’re talking about older kids, but kids that have mental health issues or impulsivity issues are probably affected a bit more.”
Frank has expressed her concerns with her daughter’s school. The school district said it was reviewing the situation and following protocol for bullying accusations.
Floyd’s case is still under investigation, but one person was arrested in connection with the murder and accused of tampering with evidence.
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