Living in the Hinsdale area, students at Hinsdale Central usually aren’t used to hearing gruesome stories in the news that happened only a few miles away from their home. This past weekend, we experienced a dose of reality when a Willowbrook woman was attacked in her own home and has now been hospitalized after suffering sexual assault and several stab wounds.

Around 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, the 26-year-old woman was approached by a man asking for money. After refusing, the man came to the side door asking to use the phone and forced his way into her house after she refused again. The woman was then sexually assaulted and suffered a violent beating before the suspect left. She then ran to a neighbor’s house and the police was called.

The victim is still in the hospital and is suffering from serious, but not life threatening injuries. On Wednesday, Sept. 2, a 31-year-old man was charged with attempted murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, home invasion and armed robbery according to the Chicago Tribune. 

This is the kind of story that begins to put things into perspective for students at Hinsdale Central who are used to their safe lives in suburbia. First of all, that any human being would have the capacity to do something so awful is absolutely appalling, but the fact that it can and did happen so close to our front doors is what makes this story so shockingly horrible to Central students and other community members. This is why it is so important to always have your guard up. 

Junior, Sridevi Kaza, lives in Willowbrook and was home alone when she heard the news of the attack.

“It happened right in my neighborhood, and I think that it impacted me more than someone who doesn’t live by me since it made me worried about safety levels in my own town,” Kaza said.

This case has really resounded with members of the community and it concerns people in the neighborhood in regards to their own safety and the safety of other community members. Aside from looking out for yourself at all times, keep an eye on who is driving down your streets and remember to look out for your neighbors.