Corshawnda Hatter, 9-Year-old Attacked by Students Outside Orville Bright Elementary School in Far South Side, Chicago

Personal Injury - December 4, 2025

Chicago’s Mayor Called Assault That Left Corshawnda Hatter, Child Seriously Injured Outside Orville Bright Elementary School “Absolutely Gut-Wrenching”

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (December 4, 2025) – A mother identified as Corshawnda Hatter and her 9-year-old child were seriously injured and hospitalized after being attacked at Orville Bright Elementary School.

Cook County officials are saying that the attack took place shortly after 3:00 p.m. on Monday. Corshawnda Hatter and her children were walking on the sidewalk when they were attacked by a group of children.

The brutal assault was captured on video and posted to social media. Corshawnda Hatter and her 9-year-old son were both taken to Trinity Hospital with serious injuries.

Members of the community are saying that certain children have been terrorizing people in similar attacks. A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Cook County School Assaults

Schools have a legal obligation to protect children and guests from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. Consider, for example, Kobylanski v. Chicago Bd. of Educ., 63 Ill. 2d 165. In that case, a student was injured during gym activities. Plaintiffs for the attorneys argued that the incident was the result of negligent supervision. The court held that if a school shows a conscious disregard for the safety of students, they could be liable for that student’s injuries. There are many steps that schools should take to protect students and guests.

• Schools should provide adequate supervision at all times of day.
• School should respond immediately to reports of bullying or threats.
• Schools should maintain a safe physical environment and correct any known hazards.
• Schools should enforce clear safety rules and reporting procedures.

The vast majority of attacks at schools are preventable. They tend to involve situations when students are not being supervised. When a school has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous situation, they must take action. Failing to take action could serve as evidence of negligence. For example, a school may have known that a certain hallway or bathroom was the source of many assaults and still failed to do anything about it.

Steps to Take After Far South Side, Chicago School Assaults

Assaults on school grounds are unfortunately quite common. According to one study by the Centers for Disease Control, “Almost 9% of high school students had not gone to school at least one day during the 30 days before the survey because they felt they would be unsafe at school or on their way to or from school.” It is important for victims of school violence to take certain measures to protect their rights.

• Medical Support: Victims should seek a thorough medical evaluation. Many of the injuries associated with an assault will not be immediately obvious.
• Police: The police should be called to the scene as early as possible so that they can begin an investigation.
• School Records: All of the school records related to the assault should be carefully reviewed.
• Legal Support: Any person injured in a school assault should seek the guidance of an experienced personal injury attorney.

It can be hard to know where to begin after any school assault in Chicago. Victims are often left with serious injuries that may necessitate they take time off work. They could also be left with high medical bills. Any person injured in a school attack may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Investigating Chicago School Assaults

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates were very concerned to hear about this assault on Corshawnda Hatter and her child. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. This was a senseless and brutal attack that should have never taken place. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken to prevent similar incidents.

Have you or someone that you care about been assaulted on school grounds in Chicago? You may have legal recourse. Our team of Chicago personal injury attorneys is here to support you. We care deeply that victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.