The mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina, is weighing whether to impose a curfew for minors following a series of shootings and chaotic events over the Independence Day weekend. Nine people were shot amid a series of teen takeovers across the city, prompting the mayor to consider enacting a curfew for those aged 17 and under.
The violence over the holiday weekend led Mayor Janet Cowell to express her concerns about the situation. She stated, "Clearly, Raleigh is not exempt from the incidents of youth violence that are occurring across the country. We need to talk with the youth, their parents, schools, and the broader community to understand the root causes and to better coordinate strategies."
One possible approach, according to the mayor, may be a youth curfew for those 17 years old and under, which other cities in North Carolina have implemented. City leaders are exploring "many approaches" that are expected to be discussed at Tuesday's City Council meeting.
Over the weekend, around 5,000 teenagers showed up in Brier Creek and another 5,000 in Glenwood South, with half residing outside the city. A large fight broke out near a movie theater and nearby stores, followed by gunshots. One adult was shot and another was injured by shattered glass caused by the shooting.
Police investigations into the shootings are ongoing. Mayor Cowell has described the recent events as a "disturbing national trend." She expressed her gratitude to the Raleigh Police Department for their response to the situation and acknowledged that the community has work ahead to engage with youth to prevent future occurrences.
The recent events have also raised concerns among local businesses. A bar in the Glenwood South area, Milk Bar, reported that while they had zero safety incidents inside the bar, they made the proactive decision to close their doors to protect patrons and staff from the surrounding unrest.
