This is horrible, and I hate to see this in my neighborhood, especially around the time I frequently do the last dog walk of the night before going to bed. I do wonder, however, why a juvenile has $100 in cash. I'm lucky to carry five bucks these days.

There are a few houses in the area that suddenly have a houseful of kids that are out all hours of the day/night These residents are living in "rentals". Now I'm not sure if this crime is related but I would bet it is. So disturbing to see out once safe neighborhood being overtaken by ghetto trash.

And why was this juvenile out past curfew!!!!! Where are the parents!

I hope the police catch those lawless thugs

Didn't a similar incident happen last Fall in this area after an HF Football game? How sad for the family of this young person. Suffering such a brutal and violent attack over a request for $5.00. Are the offenders that poor they needed $5.00? Cowards!

Rentals & section 8 residents sometimes bring ghetto trash. These programs can destroy an entire neighborhood !!!!! Where are the parents? The owners of these rentals are not concerned about Homewood all they want is money.

What exactly is ghetto trash? And why the implication that renters and holders of Section 8 vouchers bring in the trouble? I was a renter and an owner in the H-F area for many years. Raised two children and hardly ever saw or heard of violent crime like this, let alone "brought" it to the neighborhood. We're all good people trying to pay our bills, have our kids attend good schools, and keep our communities safe and thriving. Let's call this an isolated incident instead of indicting people who may need to rent because they cannot own...that could be you one day.

First of all nobody should have to fear being beaten up. That being said, this kid should not have been our past curfew, or carrying a lot of money. I don't even carry a lot of cash around anymore!! There are a lot of gangs running around Homewood and Flossmoor now.

Regardless if he was out pass curfew and people are renting out their home. WE should be able to walk the streets without being harassed, beaten or have our items taken from us. The only people at fault are the thugs that did this.

Kind of sounds like the Homewood Zombies.

Its sad that they have to fight in packs, there just like RATS, cant be a man and fight one on one, Homewood is looking more like Chicago everyday!!!

Please stop blaming the victim. It's so wrong. If the facts of this story are accurate, the victim's actions (being out at 11:15 p.m., walking down the street) do not justify an attack. Hey, I'm an owner not a renter and sometimes my teenager walks back home across the street from our neighbor's house AFTER curfew. I guess he'd deserve to be beaten? This is just awful.

Village/neighborly vigilance will beat the thuggery. Know your neighbor "kids", parents and surrounding friends. If you don't, visit them, know them, if they're not cool remember the Homewood Police, non emergency number is 206-3420. Tell em it's Rich on the block watchin' out.

Tell you what, take that $100 and buy some personal protection. You start smashing these aholes in the mouth and they might think twice. I'm sick of all the peace loving community talk around here. Yes, I know we have great people in the community who rent. That's not a problem. It is a problem around here with ghetto trash thinking their crap don't stink and they can do whatever they feel like. There, I said it...ohhhhh I'm such a terrible person. But yes smash these creeps in the face, stand up for yourselves. THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY and there is no problem labeling the problem for what it really is!

I wonder what race the victim is...because if white kids did this to a black kid, it would make national news.

Both Homewood and Flossmoor need LOTS more cruising by patrol cars, both day and night.

Thank Mayor Daily for emptying the projects out and sending them along with the thugs to the far south side. Residents should all have neighborhood watch programs and get to know their neighbors and their kids. It's a great opportunity for them (at south side residents expense mind you) but some of them are ruining it by bringing the ghetto attitudes with them.. I've seen packs of teenagers walking the streets at night. I'd say call the cops and have them check up on what they are doing besides blocking traffic and looking for trouble. Homewood cops should be giving citations out for jwalking and curfew violations when they find these kids walking in the streets 3 or 4 abreast and literally blocking traffic. Put there parents names in the paper or patch articles so other residents can see who's parenting. If your kids come home with a few citations and maybe have to do some community service work maybe it will "educate" them all. When cars come down the street get out of the way, even animals know to get out of the way of a moving vehicle! Don't be intimidated by them - constant vigilance is necessary as common sense is a rare commodity these days.

I am a renter and do a take offense to it being because the person is renting because that is not the case. Ghetto trash could be a homeowner also. And for all we know they might not even live in the area people can travel.

Does anyone on here even know when Homewood and Flossmoor's curfews are? Are they being enforced? We used to get questioned when cutting across Willow's park and they'd call our parents to see if our stories checked out. I see kids, not 15-16 year olds but 11, 12, 13... darting back and forth across 183rd at night. I don't want to punish kids but rather protect them against adults who are clearly out there starting trouble. It's not 1950, we're in a crap economy and if your walking in the dark alone there's a higher chance that something bad might happen.

I agree, call the non emergency police number if something doesn't seem right. If you're wrong and two strangers turn out to be sweethearts just taking a stroll, then get them a few scoops at Mitchal's for their hassle. But if you're right, then you may just prevent another kid from getting hurt.

I like Homewood, I'm staying.

Certainly a spirited bit of blogging! I will wait for the police to complete this investigation and perhaps they will develop enough information to locate the offenders. Then you can cast your stones in another direction.

I pray for the young man that was beaten. I also pray that these young men know that they're doing so much more harm to themselves and the black community than they can possible imagine.

Reading this headline only brought back the horror that our family went through in April 2007 when our son was attacked in broad daylight walking home from the Homewood Dairy Queen. Beaten and left with a fractured skull, our son was accosted similiarly, for no apparent reason. He had no money on him - the attacker just began hitting him on the head with a BB Gun while our son begged him to stop. Thank God the thug stopped. He ran away and our son revived himself, ran to the nearest home for help and was airlifted to Univ of Chgo hospital. A week later, our son recognized the thug driving around James Hart Jr. HS. He reported the license plate number to the police which matched the plate number that an anonymous caller had given on the night of the attack when something did not look right. Bless that person whoever it was! The plates matched, our son was called in to the police dept. to view a 'line-up'. The thug and his weapon were positively identified. The thug is Christian Plunkett. We took him to court, he was charged as a 17 yr-old felon but let go with community service, a 2 year probation period and a court apology to the judge and to our family. In May 2009, he broke that probation by damaging his parents Homewood home and beating his girlfriend. Both the parents and girlfriend dropped the charges, so our case was closed... Christian Plunkett was raised in a fairly upper middle class home in Homewood.

Ghetto trash - anyone who is a danger to our community, anyone that has no interest in keeping our area safe nor contributing to the community in a positive way. Let's be honest here.

Thank goodness Homewood's latest victim is ok. Homewood is a decent community. Our attacker was caught because a concerned citizen took down a license plate number after getting a feeling that something was not right. That person is anonymous but a hero to me. Vigilance, neighborhood watch - let's step up that game!

Lynn - I am so sorry to hear of what your son went through. Thank goodness he will be ok. Like you said, every community is facing this problem. And I think we ALL need to to have the thought process of " we are not afraid" for if we become afraid then those that are doing this get the upper hand and we all need to do what we can to keep Homewood a relatively safe and quiet community, which certainly we must agree that we don't have nearly the problems that other communities do.
Yes, sometimes the people doing the attacking are "ghetto trash" but they could also be "white trash" . They could live in a rented house, but they could also live in one of the nicest houses in Homewood! I grew up here and Homewood has had it's share of "problems" over the years - once as a child, we had a "stranger" or two around Willow trying to lure kids into his car (1970's) We also had a landmark building, the Steiner water tower on Martin that had to be torn down because some kids got inside and set a fire in it. And I'm sure that those growing up in the 60's and in the 50's can remember their own stories of Homewood crime.
The problem is that now it seems that people seem to think beating someone unconcious over money and a phone is OK and that is certainly a more serious matter and the people who think it is ok come from all walks of life.
Thank you Lynn for planning to stay in Homewood. My prayers will be with you and your son!

I'm afraid that saying it happens everywhere, which is false, means we end up accepting it as the new "norm". Thank God this young man is ok. He should be able to walk home with his tips.

Ghetto trash is not intended to be a racial comment nice assumption made it could be a purple trash person for all I care. I am glad the victim is ok and am glad the mom voiced the actual events. Thank you.

Concerned mom, I know you didn't intend the label "ghetto trash" to be a racial comment, but it's exactly why I asked for a definition. You were the only one honest enough to address it...if we're really honest, it's mostly black and brown people identified in ghettoes. The implication from earlier posts leaned this way, but black and brown people are also in the suburbs. Whatever race, creed or color the victim or perpetrators, I too am glad this young man is okay. As a parent of a young woman who worked on Dixie Highway, received tips, and needed to get home late at night blocks away, I certainly empathize with the mom and her son who was just minding his business...Lord knows it could have been my child that was jumped. I just get tired of the rhetoric behind stereotypes of certain "kinds" of people bringing violence to our community. It's this mindset that creates hate crimes. Consider the black man hired by a bank to maintain a foreclosed property in Tinley Park, who was attacked by a neighboring resident for "looking suspicious." I work in Tinley and I'd hate to think someone finds me suspicious! Regardless, I trust law enforcement to find the suspects in this case and adjudicate accordingly, without community members rushing to judgment and fearing that "ghetto trash" is taking over.

What happened to neighbors actually KNOWING what is happening in their neighborhood? I wonder HOW could this happen in a "peaceful" neighborhood and NO ONE heard anything? NO ONE came out to see or help? Why dont people get up off their a$$ and go outside, watch the street say hi to their neighbor KNOW who is suppose to be there and who isnt. WHY NOT form a local block watch. Who cares if you call the police to report suspicious people in your neighborhood? If they arent doing anything then they will be asked by the police what they are doing there and if they have nothing to hide or if they arent guilty of anything then they will be left alone to thier business. Its better than to be over protective and over suspicious than to be regretful that you didnt do anything to prevent a crime that causes someones health, well being or worse yet their life. Maybe once people start becoming more involved in whats going on around them, these ( as you call them "Ghetto Trash" ) people will realize that - THIS is OUR neighborhood, OUR homes, and OUR community - YOU ARE NOT WELCOMED HERE !!!

I think a close look at the Homewood crime statistics would be a good bit of investigative reporting if there were a reporter listening... Seems to me the bulk of people getting arrested over on Halsted for shoplifting on a regular basis don't have names like "Tommy" or" Susie" if you read the articles. I'm sure it isn't all situations but very many. I grew up in Homewood too and sure, there was crime but I don't think it was nearly as rampant as it is now. I don't remember it being as harmful and destructive and against innocent residents. How about the armed robberies? the woman who was accosted and kidnapped and dumped out of her own vehicle in Harvey? Jumped in her own driveway! A home invasion, the shooting in Glenwood about a month ago that even included a baby getting shot?
Da Nile isn't only a river folks.. It's sad but true that stereotypes get perpetuated based on frequency of occurances as well as rhetoric or bigotry. As far as a "hate crimes mindset" you might want to google Social Darwinism. It's the hoodlums, thugs and yes ghetto trash that are pushing the envelope - they are the ones you should be getting tired of not other law abiding people..
Glad the young man is ok, I hope the creeps are caught but I'd rather not be paying for three squares a day and medical coverage for them when they do get caught, there has to be another solution!

Lynn all our love to you both! I hate to hear the bigotry in these comments! I have lived in this area for my 46 years we live here for the diversity. My kids are color blind until bigots like you point it out. Trash is trash whatever color shape size it comes in. Who is to say these kids didn't get off the train and aren't even from here? You bigots talk without knowing facts which is ignorant. There are bad people in this world in every income bracket, every nationality, every race. Shame on you for spouting your ignorant rant rather than caring about the well being of the child. Also... After my very expensive flossmoor home sells We will be renting in the area... Do I need to prepare my family that our status from owner to renter will also change our staus from respected community member to " ghetto trash"?

What's really scary is that there was a block party on Perth and Alexander.... one block away!!!! There were still a lot of us out cleaning up at that time, we unfortunately didn't see or hear anything.

Jimmi v
Ghetto trash coming into are town?
We are the ghetto ! Just look around

Well I am going to say this. Homewood, IL is another suburb going downhill. I cannot wait until my daughter finishes HF in two years. My husband and I are putting ourselves in position to move closer to our jobs in the city. I moved to the suburbs from overseas to not put up with the "ghetto life" behavior of the city. If the behavior is out here, I may just as well move to the city, go down to 1 car and have a shorter commute to my work. I have watched how this once nice suburb and other suburban areas go down the drain. Mind you, I grew up in the inner city and witnessed the same thing. It is hard when your parents are trying to maintain a home where you have people breaking into your home and garages. These people don't know the difference between hard work and just being lazy. Always looking for a handout or someone to rob. You can call me racist; but I am Black. So, guess I am racist against people not wanting anything in life but to have multiple children, multiple "baby daddies", Section 8, and more handouts. Why do you think businesses are hesitant to bring work here? That is why they are moving Section 8 to the suburbs because job opportunities are bleak. This is cycle that I have experienced before and I will not be here to live through it again.

Please understand how sorry I am for Lynn's son, and the grief she must feel--the security that must have been ripped out of their lives, singly and collectively.

I hate to tell you folks, this is not a new problem, and hardly city-borne or the result of renters or section 8 or race or public housing closing.

I'm 53, lived in Park Forest for 44 years, and I promise my high school years were violent, angry times as well. So were Thornton's, H-F's, Rich Central's, even Marion's. Also common were alcohol, drugs, and sex.

Still, Lynn, maybe you ought to consider putting in a regular, old-fashioned house phone (the most dreaded "land - line") rather than allowing any member of your household--especially a child--go out late at night merely to get "better cell reception". I know the idea is SO last-century, but house phones do exist and you CAN make calls on them--and never risk the danger of what happened to your son!

Prayers for your son Lynn. I hope he has a speedy recovery. It is very sad that everyone has to lay blame and attack. It was a senseless crime and unfortunately can happen anywhere anytime. I hope they catch whoever did this!

This article is a stry about a person - a 17 year old boy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Instead of supporting our neighbor, it seems like most of you people have put the blame on the victim and his family, attacking the boy, his mother's parenting styles, and making accusations as to their family life. Most of these comments are filthy, disgusting, and disrespectful towards the situation at hand. I'm disgusted to see these accusatory comments, the boy had money because he holds a job, and he didn't get injured because his mother doesn't have a house phone. The world is an evil place because of the people's accusations and assumptions written within this comment thread, not because of a person's skin color or where they grew up. Let's get back to what the story is about - recognizing that an innocent kid's life, and his family's life, had forever been changed due to an unfortunate incident.