Crime
Mother Corshawnda Hatter with sickle cell jumped by kids while protecting her children
CHICAGO — A growing number of parents and community members are calling for accountability after a disturbing video circulated widely on social media showing a mother and her children being violently attacked by students near Orville Bright Elementary School on Chicago’s Far South Side.
The incident occurred Monday afternoon and has sparked outrage throughout the South Deering neighborhood.
On Tuesday morning, dozens of parents gathered outside the school, demanding consequences for those involved, including potential expulsions.
Many expressed frustration, saying the violence was alarming but not unexpected based on prior concerns about student behavior.
According to Chicago police, the attack took place shortly after 3 p.m. in the 10600 block of South Bensley Avenue.
Investigators say the victims — 33-year-old Chicago mother Carshawnda Hatter and her children — were walking home when a group of juveniles approached and began striking them multiple times.
Both Hatter and her 9-year-old son were transported to Trinity Hospital in serious condition.
A video of the attack — now viewed millions of times — shows Hatter walking alongside her two children while a large group of students follows closely behind, shouting.
Moments later, several students surround the family, and at least two individuals can be seen punching both the mother and her son. The situation quickly escalates as Hatter is forced to the ground during the assault.
“They were literally waiting along the route we walk home just to jump us,” Hatter told supporters and media gathered outside the school. “I told my kids to walk on the other side of the street so we wouldn’t get jumped. They followed us the whole way… They hit my son first, and then they dragged me into the grass.”
Hatter attended a meeting with school administrators on Tuesday morning to address the attack. She was escorted into the building by police officers as supporters demanded answers from school officials.
She said her son has experienced bullying previously and hopes this incident finally brings change.
“I’m trying to get justice for my son,” she said — a statement met with vocal support from the crowd.
Parents at the scene said this attack represents a pattern of escalating behavior among some students.
“This has been happening in this community, and nothing gets done,” one parent said. “Some of these kids terrorize other families — and their parents refuse to take responsibility. If my child was behaving like this, I would address it immediately.”
Chicago police say the motive behind the attack remains under investigation. As of Tuesday afternoon, no arrests had been made.
The Chicago Public Schools district has not yet issued an official statement regarding disciplinary actions or safety measures moving forward.
The investigation is ongoing.
Orlando, Fla. — Family and friends of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz are seeking answers and accountability following his fatal shooting outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub early Sunday morning.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, just north of Lake Ivanhoe, in reference to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed Cruz was born May 18, 1992.
Detectives determined that prior to the shooting, Cruz and the suspect were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk outside the nightclub district. Investigators say that during the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, which patrol officers later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, approximately two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Police subsequently arrested 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr (DOB: October 29, 1988). He has been charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm. Authorities confirmed this case marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026.
Cruz’s father, Anthony Cruz, said his son and his partner had been at Savoy Orlando enjoying the evening before the violence unfolded.
According to the family, as the couple exited the club after closing time, a vehicle sped past them. Cruz’s partner allegedly yelled toward the occupants of the vehicle, prompting the car to stop. A physical altercation then reportedly began between Cruz’s partner and one of the individuals from the vehicle.
“When they fought, my son saw that was happening. My son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,” Anthony Cruz said. “My son didn’t deserve what happened. All I have left is a shirt — a shirt with a bullet hole.”
While police have charged Borja Gil De La Madr, Cruz’s family maintains that another individual may have been directly responsible for pulling the trigger. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought.
A small memorial has formed across from the nightclub, where members of the community have gathered to honor Cruz’s memory.
Joshua Cooper, owner of Savoy Orlando, said the tragedy has deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, even though the shooting occurred off the club’s property.
“I didn’t know the victim, but from everything I’ve been told, I wish I had,” Cooper said. “He seemed like a great kid. Seeing a family that is so heartbroken and so supportive of this community says so much.”
The Orlando Police Department has not released additional information regarding potential additional suspects. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline.
The investigation remains active.