The quiet North Center neighborhood was rattled Friday by allegations of sexual abuse at local school.
One family tells NBC 5 they specifically moved to the neighborhood street so their young daughter could attend Bell Elementary School.
"It’s extremely disturbing," parent David Ying said. "I’m extremely frustrated and angry and something should be done."
Hundreds of parents learned a 22-year-old working inside the school is accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old student. The girl told a teacher Quinten Hawthorne touched her inappropriately several times in November.
Yinyin Lau-Ying's daughter attends Bell Elementary.
"(I'm) very, very shocked," she said. "Still reeling from the shock."
Parents--not only upset to hear about the allegations--but that a month went by before they were informed. The Ying family says they still haven’t received notice from the school.
Local
"They owe it to the parents and especially the children," Lau-Ying said. "It’s bad enough kids go to school and parents think that any day could be a lock down and guns and now we have to deal with this on top of everything."
Hawthorne was a vendor employee that helped with after-school programs and recess.
He was immediately banned from the school and an investigation was initiated, the school principal said in statement as soon as NBC 5 learned of the allegations.
Hawthorne is facing two felony counts for his alleged behavior.
He was arrested Thursday.
