9 Children Hospitalized After Pepper Spray Incident at Chicago School

Altercation between two individuals led to discharge of chemical irritant at Paul Revere Elementary

Jan. 27, 2026 at 8:47pm

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Nine children were hospitalized after someone discharged pepper spray during an altercation at Paul Revere Elementary School in Chicago's Grand Crossing neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon. The incident occurred just before 3 p.m. when a physical altercation between a female and male of unknown ages resulted in the female spraying a chemical irritant, which the school principal said was pepper spray, toward the male. Five girls and four boys between the ages of 12 and 14 were taken to Comer Children's Hospital in good condition.

Why it matters

Incidents of violence and the use of chemical irritants in schools raise serious concerns about student and staff safety. This event highlights the need for better conflict resolution and de-escalation protocols in schools to prevent such situations from occurring and putting young people at risk.

The details

According to the school principal, staff immediately intervened to de-escalate the situation and notified the CPS Office of Safety and Security and the Chicago Police Department. No one is currently in custody and Area One detectives are investigating the incident.

  • The altercation and pepper spray discharge occurred just before 3 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28, 2026.

The players

Paul Revere Elementary School

A public elementary school located in the Grand Crossing neighborhood of Chicago.

Principal Broy

The principal of Paul Revere Elementary School who notified parents and families about the incident.

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What they’re saying

“The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority, and I am writing to inform you of an incident that occurred at school earlier today.”

— Principal Broy, Principal, Paul Revere Elementary School (Letter to parents)

What’s next

The Chicago Police Department's Area One detectives are investigating the incident to determine if any charges will be filed.

The takeaway

This event underscores the need for schools to have robust safety protocols and conflict resolution training in place to protect students and staff from potential violence on campus. Ensuring a safe learning environment should be the top priority for all schools.