The city of Chicago is drawing the line! Seven juveniles are now facing criminal charges after a disturbing attack on a mother and her children near a Chicago Public Schools elementary school, an incident so violent it stopped folks mid-scroll and sparked real outrage across the city.
As previously reported, the attack happened Nov. 17 on the Far South Side and was caught on video that quickly spread on Facebook. In the footage, 33-year-old Corshawnda Hatter is seen being punched before collapsing to the ground. Chaos follows. By the time it was over, Hatter and her 9-year-old son were both taken to the hospital in serious condition.
RELATEDHeartbreaking: Chicago mother, Young Son Brutally Attacked By Children While Walking Home
According to Chicago police, those charged include 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 charged with battery.
“All were referred for counseling services and were released from custody,” police said, according to ABC7.
But this didn’t come out of nowhere.
Hatter says she had been sounding the alarm for two years, telling school staff that her son was being bullied. She says it didn’t stop at school either, sometimes the kids would follow him all the way 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.”
That frustration, feeling ignored, brushed off, and left to fend for yourself, hit a nerve with a lot of parents watching this story unfold.
After the video went viral, Chicago Public Schools released a statement in November saying, “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.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson also weighed in, calling the incident unacceptable and stressing that this kind of violence cannot become normal in Chicago.
“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.”
For many in the community, these charges aren’t about punishing kids, they’re about finally taking harm seriously, protecting families, and making it clear that mob violence, especially near schools, won’t be brushed aside.
This didn’t just happen. It built up over time. And the response? It needed to happen too.