Safety Concerns Linger Weeks After Brutal Attack on South Side Mother and Children

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The school bell rang at Orville T. Bright Elementary School, signaling dismissal and the end of another school day.

For most families, it marked the beginning of a familiar walk home. For one South Side mother, it marked the start of a traumatic ordeal.

On Nov. 17, 33-year-old Corshawnda Hatter was picking up her two children and walking home through their South Deering neighborhood, following a routine she had repeated countless times. Within minutes, that routine was violently disrupted.

As the family walked near 106th Street and Bensley Avenue, Hatter and her children were followed, taunted and attacked by a group of students, according to reports and video footage that later circulated widely on social media.

The attack has raised urgent questions about student safety, bullying and school accountability in Chicago’s far South Side. Video of the assault sparked community outrage, prompted public responses from city and school officials, and renewed scrutiny of how Chicago Public Schools addresses repeated reports of harassment involving students.

The video, which shows Hatter attempting to protect her children as she is assaulted, quickly spread online and drew widespread condemnation from parents, residents and advocates across Chicagoland.

Hatter, who lives with sickle cell anemia, has used social media to speak out about the incident and her family’s experience. She said her 9-year-old son had been subjected to bullying for nearly two years and that she repeatedly raised concerns with school administrators, but little action was taken.

According to CBS, the safety concerns extend beyond this incident. Some of the students allegedly involved in the attack were also linked to a separate assault earlier this year involving 21-year-old South Deering resident Sean Brown, who was attacked during the summer and left unconscious.

In the days following the attack, community members gathered outside Orville T. Bright Elementary School in support of Hatter and her family, calling for accountability from both the school and the parents of the children involved.

Hatter later addressed misinformation circulating online, including false claims that she received a new home or a $1 million donation from Oprah Winfrey. As of the publication date, Hatter’s official GoFundMe had raised $42,979. There are no verified reports confirming a donation from Winfrey.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson described the incident as “an incredibly traumatic, horrific and violent moment” and said the city would provide support to the family. Chicago Public Schools said it is working with city agencies to support the victims and review safety measures.

Hatter said she plans to pursue charges against the parents of the children involved. Parents and community members have demanded consequences for those responsible, with some calling for expulsions. More than three weeks after the incident, no official arrests had been announced.

According to Hatter, her family is receiving therapy to help cope with the trauma. Still, she said the emotional toll remains heavy, both for her family and the surrounding community.

The incident has intensified broader conversations about bullying, student oversight and accountability within the school system, particularly in neighborhoods already facing longstanding safety concerns.

Supporters continue to donate to Hatter’s GoFundMe and advocate for stronger protections for students and parents, saying the response to this incident could shape how schools across Chicagoland address bullying and violence moving forward.