CHICAGO (WLS) — Following a violent incident near a South Side elementary school last month, police have charged seven minors in connection with the assault on a woman and her children.
Note: The video above is from a previous news report.
A widely circulated video on Facebook, viewed tens of thousands of times, captures the moment a woman was punched during the attack, which escalated into further violence.
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The incident took place in the afternoon of November 17, near 106th Street and Bensley Avenue, just a short distance from Orville T. Bright Elementary School.
In the video shared on social media, a 33-year-old woman is seen being punched and subsequently knocked to the ground.
According to police, both the woman and a 9-year-old boy were transported to Trinity Hospital, where they were treated for serious injuries.
Seven minors are now charged with battery in the case, Chicago police said. Those charged included three 10-year-old boys, a 10-year-old girl, an 11-year-old girl, a 12-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl.
“All were referred for counseling services and were released from custody,” CPD officials said.
The woman who was beaten, Corshawnda Hatter, spoke with ABC7 the week of the shooting and said she’s never endured such pain.
READ MORE | Mother speaks out after violent beating near South Side CPS school caught on video: ‘So much pain’
“So much pain, emotional, physical, I’m not feeling good at all,” Hatter said at the time.
Hatter says she told the school staff for two years her son was being bullied. Sometimes, she says, older kids would follow him home.
“For two years, and they have not done a thing,” she said. “They see me coming they will run or tell security to tell me they are not there.”
In November, CPS said in a statement, “Chicago Public Schools (CPS) prioritizes the safety and well being of our students, staff, and families, and we are committed to building a physically and emotionally safe teaching and learning environment in every school.
“We are horrified by the attack on this family, and we are working collaboratively with City departments and agencies to provide support to the victims of the attack. CPS is coordinating closely with the Mayor’s Office, CPD, CHA, and other City departments to provide additional support to the family.
“School administrators, teachers, and support staff work with students to create an open environment where conflicts and grievances can be addressed. School leaders work with parents and all parties involved to find a resolution, adhering to the Student Code of Conduct (SCC) as they address any confirmed violations. In addition, it is always our goal for all members of our school communities, including staff, students, and parents, to work together proactively to maintain a safe and calm environment at our schools.”
In November, Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement, “I was deeply disturbed to see the video of young people attacking a mother and her child on the Far South Side yesterday afternoon. That type of behavior is unacceptable in our city and we must not normalize that type of senseless violence. Leaders from my office have been on the ground all day to coordinate with CPS, CPD, and CHA to respond to this incident. CPD has deployed additional resources to the area to maintain public safety, and we are working with CHA on additional measures to support the family. We have also activated support from community-based organizations that focus on youth services and violence prevention to provide safe passage for students and families at this school. I will continue to monitor this situation closely as I get updates from the ground and as the investigation unfolds. It is critical that we provide the necessary resources to our public education system so that every school community has counselors and mental health professionals. We must redouble our efforts to teach our young people that violence is never an acceptable response. Our students and families should always feel safe on their way to and from school and we must make the critical investments necessary to make that a reality in every part of our city. I’m grateful for the community residents who have rallied to support the family and I am calling for calm as we conduct a full investigation and ensure there is accountability for the attackers and healing for the victims.”
In November, the Chicago Teachers Union said in a statement, “We’re as saddened as anyone to see parents and students suffer violence. Every family should show up to school knowing they’ll be safe, loved, and cared for and every educator and community member should be equipped with the resources to foster a beloved community.
“What has proven to effectively work to reduce violence in our communities and at schools is exactly what is missing from Bright: safe passage workers, restorative justice coordination, and after-school programming that engages young people and nurtures their interests.
“Our educators alongside community groups have been doing all they can to fill the gap caused by the $1.6 billion dollars in underfunding from the governor and IL General Assembly and to meet the needs of the students even without the budget from the district to do so. It’s clear the community needs to be invested in and have more services provided. It shows exactly why the funding for the very community safety initiatives aldermen voted against yesterday are so urgently necessary.”
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