A woman and a young boy were hospitalized after they were attacked Monday afternoon near an elementary school on the city’s Far South Side, authorities said.
The 33-year-old woman and the boy, 9, were walking on the 10600 block of South Bensley Avenue in the South Deering neighborhood around 3:10 p.m. when a group approached and struck them multiple times, according to Chicago police.
Following the attack, which took place about two blocks northwest of Orville T. Bright Elementary School, the woman and boy were transported to Advocate Trinity Hospital, where they were initially listed in serious condition, police said.
While police would not confirm the relationship of the victims, a Chicago Public Schools spokesperson in an emailed statement to the Tribune wrote, “We are horrified by the attack on this family.”
The attack occurred off school property. Videos of the incident have circulated widely on social media.
In a statement posted to social media, Mayor Brandon Johnson said he was “deeply disturbed to see the video of young people attacking a mother and her child.”
“That type of behavior is unacceptable in our city and we must not normalize that type of senseless violence,” Johnson wrote.
CPS is working with other city departments and agencies to provide additional support for the family, the district spokesperson stated.
“(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,” their statement read.
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Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates also issued a statement Tuesday night calling for community investment in the wake of the attack.
“What has proven to effectively work to reduce violence in our communities and at schools,” she stated, “is exactly what is missing from Bright (Elementary): safe passage workers, restorative justice coordination, and after-school programming that engages young people and nurtures their interests.”
Police have deployed additional resources to the area to maintain public safety, according to Johnson, who added that community-based organizations focused on youth services and violence prevention have also been activated to help ensure families and students have safe passage to school.
“I am calling for calm as we conduct a full investigation and ensure there is accountability for the attackers and healing for the victims,” Johnson stated.
No one was in custody as of early Tuesday afternoon, as Calumet area detectives continued their investigation.