Raleigh, North Carolina, Mayor Janet Cowell is considering a curfew for minors after a turbulent Independence Day weekend marked by multiple fights and shootings. The unrest, which left nine people wounded, unfolded as several cities nationwide dealt with large teen gatherings and so-called takeover events.
The holiday weekend violence led Cowell to tell WRAL News that city officials are looking at the possibility of setting a curfew for residents age 17 and younger.
“As Mayor, I am grateful for the actions of the Raleigh Police officers in response to the situations of juvenile violence across the city on the night of July 4 and the morning of July 5,” Cowell told the news outlet. “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.”
Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell said city officials plan to consider a minor curfew after a series of fights and shootings over the Independence Day weekend. (Getty Images)
Cowell said one option under review is a youth curfew applying to anyone 17 or younger, a policy already used in other North Carolina communities. She added that local leaders are evaluating “many approaches,” with the issue expected to come up during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
INC News has contacted Cowell’s office for comment.
Raleigh police said Sunday that roughly 5,000 teens gathered in Brier Creek and another 5,000 assembled in Glenwood South. Authorities said about half of those involved lived outside the city.
Raleigh police officers and detectives work at a crime scene in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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Raleigh police officers initially responded just after 10:05 p.m. Saturday to reports of a fight near a movie theater and nearby stores. The incident stemmed from a “teen takeover,” a social media-driven phenomenon where massive crowds of youths coordinate to suddenly congregate at public spaces like beaches, malls, or restaurants.
A large fight broke out, followed by gunshots. One adult was shot and another was injured by shattered glass caused by the shooting, police said. A juvenile was found with a gun and detained, but investigators don’t believe the teen was one of the shooters.
Hours later, at 1:35 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to multiple shootings. Six people were shot but were expected to survive.
At around 4:30 a.m., two people were shot following a fight at a gas station, police said. They were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No arrests were made.
Investigations into the shootings are ongoing, police said.
In a Monday post on X, Cowell called teen takeovers a “disturbing national trend.”
“Now in #raleighnc . Grateful to @raleighpolice for bringing back order & protecting public. @raleighgov & whole community have work ahead to engage with youth to prevent future occurrences,” she wrote.
In May, a large, unpermitted gathering on Tybee Island, Georgia ended in panic after police said gunfire broke out along the pier. (Tybee Island Police Department)
An Instagram post from Milk Bar, a bar in the Glenwood South area, said the actions of a few ruined the peace for patrons in the area.
“While we had zero safety incidents inside Milk Bar, we made the proactive decision alongside other businesses to close our doors, to protect our patrons and staff from the surrounding unrest,” the post states. “Gun violence and reckless behavior have no place in our nightlife scene. WE CAN DO BETTER, RALEIGH!”
