Chicago Public Schools custodian Elton Odell, Jr. says teacher assistant attacked him at John M. Smyth School on Near West Side
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — A Chicago school custodian reported being assaulted while on duty at a West Side elementary school, with surveillance footage seemingly capturing the incident.

Now, he’s calling for more action to be taken by Chicago Public Schools.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

He explained that the confrontation began unexpectedly when an argument with a teacher assistant at John M. Smyth Elementary School over wet floors escalated into violence.

He showed ABC7 video of the apparent attack that he said the school allowed him to record.

“Wow, this really happening?” alleged assault victim Elton Odell, Jr. “You know, like, he done actually hit me?”

After four months of employment, Odell did not anticipate leaving his position at John M. Smyth Elementary School with 15 stitches in his lip as a custodian.

“Regardless of any argument or verbal exchange, no one has the right to physically attack you,” Odell stated firmly. “It’s as straightforward as that.”

The confrontation happened while Odell was nearing the end of his shift Monday evening around 5:45 p.m.

A recorded video, which Odell claims he was authorized to film by school officials, shows him mopping when tensions rise as another individual steps onto the wet surface. ABC7 concealed the man’s identity since no charges have been made.

“The safety concern is real; someone could slip and tumble down the stairs,” Odell remarked. “The other person made some dismissive comments and attempted an apology, but I refused. I told him, ‘Man, that’s completely disrespectful.'”

The teacher assistant is then seen coming up the stairs, removing his backpack. Then, the confrontation ensues.

He’s telling me, ‘Don’t walk up on me,’ which apparently, you can see in the video, I never moved towards him,” Odell said. “So, I proceed to turn to my left to walk away and that’s when I was struck twice… I wanted to protect myself because he invaded my space, but I knew it would’ve been the wrong thing to do, that I would lose my job.”

He said the video showed it all unfolding in front of another teacher assistant and a young child.

After reporting the alleged attack to police, Odell says he went to the hospital with injuries to his lip, but it’s the mental scars left behind that he says will be hard to heal from.

“It makes me very upset about that,” Odell said. “I relive it each day now.”

There’s no word on the status of that teacher assistant at the school.

A Chicago Public Schools spokesperson said they are looking into the incident while ABC7 awaits a response.

Chicago police said they’re investigating and no one is in custody.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Skydiver survives after reserve parachute accidentally deploys, leaving him dangling from flying airplane

Skydiver’s Astonishing Survival: Reserve Parachute Mishap Leaves Him Hanging from Plane

A skydiver had a close call when his reserve parachute unexpectedly deployed…
Palmdale Street shooting on Jacksonville's Northwest side leaves man dead

Jacksonville Man Survives Shocking Roommate Shooting: A Nighttime Attack Unfolds

A Jacksonville man is on the mend after an incident involving his…
Archaeologists uncover rare fresco of Jesus in town Pope Leo XIV recently visited

Rare Jesus Fresco Discovered in Town Just Visited by Pope Leo XIV: A Historic Archaeological Find

Archaeologists in Turkey have made a remarkable discovery, unearthing a fresco depicting…
Wounded National Guardsman is making 'extraordinary progress,' can breathe on his own: doctor

National Guardsman Exhibits Remarkable Recovery, Now Breathing Independently, Reports Doctor

The National Guardsman who sustained a gunshot wound to the head in…
Fox News True Crime Newsletter: Bryan Kohberger's new target, Luigi Mangione's 'red flags,' Brian Walshe trial

Unraveling True Crime: Bryan Kohberger’s Latest Pursuit, Luigi Mangione’s Alarming Signs, and the Brian Walshe Trial Update

Bryan Kohberger has reportedly been attempting to make contact with serial killers…
Obese man on death row chooses buffet of BBQ, wings, cheeseburger, pizza, ice cream for last meal in Georgia

Georgia Death Row Inmate Opts for BBQ Feast as His Final Meal Choice

An inmate on death row in Georgia, grappling with obesity, has made…
Marjorie Taylor Greene and Code Pink, 'Traitors,' Together

Unexpected Alliance: Marjorie Taylor Greene Joins Forces with Code Pink

Recently, there’s been a noticeable shift among some leftists who have developed…
Russian police and National Guard will stay in Ukraine’s Donbas postwar, a Kremlin official says

Postwar Strategy: Kremlin Confirms Russian Police and National Guard Presence in Ukraine’s Donbas

By DASHA LITVINOVA and ILLIA NOVIKOV KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — In a…
Palmdale Street shooting on Jacksonville's Northwest side leaves man dead

Tragic Turn: Teenager Dead, Two Injured in Sandalwood After Drug Deal Goes Awry

A tragic sequence of events unfolded in Jacksonville’s Sandalwood neighborhood on Friday…
Oklahoma man accused of threatening federal agents online

Oklahoma Man Faces Charges for Online Threats Against Federal Agents

On Friday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released a photograph capturing…
North Carolina Christmas tree farmers resurge a year after Helene's devastation

North Carolina Christmas Tree Farmers Bounce Back Stronger Post-Hurricane Helene Devastation

Christmas tree farmers resurge after Helene In September 2024, Tropical Storm Helene…
Israeli official issues stark warning after chilling Syrian military war chants surface

Israeli Official Raises Alarms as Ominous Syrian Military Chants Echo Across the Region

During a military parade in Damascus on Tuesday, members of the Syrian…