Student Beaten In Harvey Middle School Classroom: Authorities

HARVEY, IL — Three males made their way into a Rosa Parks Middle School classroom Tuesday and beat a student with what officials said was a belt or strap. It is not clear whether the three have been apprehended or arrested.

District 147 Superintendent Johnnetta Miller said in a letter to parents that this was an isolated incident at the Harvey school. The males are not students at the school, she said. School officials believe they were buzzed into the building, but ran past the office where guests are required to check in.

In the letter, Miller said that staff intervened to stop the situation while others called police. The assailants fled the school as police arrived.

Miller said she is working with police to ensure "the remaining individuals are apprehended," and that the district will "prosecute these individuals to the fullest extent of the law."

She added that district officials also are working with law enforcement agencies to ensure school-safety plans are in place and to review what steps the school could have taken to prevent the incident from happening.

"As always, the District’s paramount concern is to provide a safe and nurturing learning environment for all of our students and staff and we will continue to strive to ensure that this environment exists," she said.

Harvey's Acting Chief of Police Denard Eaves has not responded to requests for comment.