Seven children are facing criminal charges following a violent assault on a mother and her son near a South Side elementary school last month.
The attack occurred on the afternoon of November 17 near Orville T. Bright Elementary School at 106th Street and Bensley Avenue.
A video of the incident, which went viral on Facebook, shows a 33-year-old woman being punched repeatedly before falling to the ground.
The Victims and Charges Police confirmed that the woman, identified as Corshawnda Hatter, and her 9-year-old son were hospitalized in serious condition following the beating.
Chicago Police have now charged seven minors with battery. The group includes:
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Three 10-year-old boys
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One 10-year-old girl
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One 11-year-old girl
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One 12-year-old boy
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One 13-year-old girl
All seven children were released from custody and referred to counseling services.
A Mother’s Plea Hatter spoke with ABC7 about the physical and emotional trauma, stating she is “not feeling good at all.”
She revealed that she had warned school officials about her son being bullied for two years prior to the attack.
“They see me coming they will run or tell security to tell me they are not there,” Hatter said, expressing frustration over the school’s lack of action.
Official Response Chicago Public Schools (CPS) released a statement saying they are “horrified” by the attack and are working with the Mayor’s office to support the family.
Mayor Brandon Johnson called the behavior “unacceptable” and emphasized the need for more mental health resources in schools.
The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) pointed to a lack of funding for “Safe Passage” workers and after-school programs as a contributing factor to the violence in the area.
