13 students hurt by pepper spray at Near North Side middle school

More than a dozen students were hospitalized after a boy sprayed a chemical irritant during lunch Monday at a Near North Side middle school.

The 12-year-old discharged the spray onto a breadstick on a dare at 12:52 p.m. in the cafeteria of Ogden International School of Chicago’s Jenner Campus, 1119 N. Cleveland Ave., according to Chicago police and fire officials.

About 30 children were checked out by paramedics at the school, the fire department said.

Thirteen were taken to hospitals, according to police. Their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

The spray was released during 6th grade lunch, acting principal Rebecca Bancroft was quoted as saying in a statement.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we had paramedics check out any student that was complaining of any symptoms and they did an assessment of air quality in the cafeteria,” Bancroft said.

“Please know that this situation is unacceptable,” Bancroft said. “While I am not able to share more information due to privacy concerns of students involved, please know that we are taking this situation seriously.”

This is the latest in a series of aerosol discharges that have injured dozens of students at Chicago schools since late April. Twelve people were hurt by pepper spray May 22 at Hanson Park Elementary School on the Northwest Side.

Six of the incidents have occurred at Morgan Park High School, the most recent of which left 11 students hurt on May 8.

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