[CHICAGO.CBSLOCAL] A group of people tried to rob middle school students at a bus stop in Gary.This sort of thing didn't happen when we had prayer in the schools.
A 14-year-old says a grown woman punched her in the face while she was waiting for the school bus this morning.
A group of Lake Ridge Middle School students were near the intersection after 7 a.m. when they say two men and two women got out of a black car and attacked.
The motive? Robbery.
"They came up to us asking us for our lunch money and asked for money and electronics. They said if we don't listen to them someone is going to get hurt," the 14-year-old said.
"A child shouldn't have to worry about adults beating up on them. It's just sickening," said Shaminka Reed, a mother of one of the children.
A neighbor's surveillance camera captured shots of the car and the wounded victim running for help.
"She came walking to her house. She was covered in blood," said Benjamin Kitchens, a neighbor.
Another neighbor followed the suspects.
"I busted a u-turn right here in the driveway. Turned around and I followed him down 24th, he didn't know I was following him, followed them lost them in the apartment complex on Clark Road," said Tammy Fischer, a witness.
The family took a look at the video tonight, grateful neighbors were ready to help when their children needed it.
Wednesday night, Lake Ridge Schools sent a letter about the crime urging parents to go to bus stops with their children.