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Violent teen ‘takeovers’ erupt across US cities, raising concerns
In a recent episode of ‘Outnumbered,’ Harris Faulkner joined forces with panelists Emily Compagno, Lisa Boothe, and Captain Barry “Butch” Wilmore to discuss the troubling rise in violent incidents involving teenagers across various American cities. The panel highlighted alarming footage from Los Angeles and a mall in Wisconsin, depicting large gatherings that are frequently orchestrated via social media, resulting in widespread disorder and numerous arrests. The conversation explored the societal issues and lack of accountability that are fueling these disruptive events.
In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson has raised concerns about a possible “teen trend” event expected on the South Side of the city. While avoiding the term “takeover,” he acknowledged that such gatherings have recently caused significant turmoil not only in Chicago but in other cities nationwide.
Addressing these concerns on Wednesday, Mayor Johnson urged parents to monitor their children’s activities closely, as past gatherings have often spiraled into chaos.
“There are credible reports of a teen trend forming in Hyde Park later today,” Johnson warned through social media on Wednesday. “Parents, please keep track of your children’s whereabouts this evening. DO NOT permit them to attend these gatherings, as they pose significant dangers and often escalate into violence.”
He concluded with a call to action, emphasizing, “Together, we can ensure the safety of our youth and our communities.”
Groups of young people took over the streets one night in Hyde Park, Chicago. (X/Chitown_Crime_Chasers)
Images circulating on social media appear to show an earlier version of the mayor’s post referring to the gathering as a “takeover” before it was changed to “trend,” though Fox News Digital has not independently verified the authenticity of those images.
Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson for comment.
The warning follows a series of similar incidents that have unfolded in recent weeks, including a March 30 gathering in Hyde Park that drew hundreds of teenagers and stretched late into the night.
Video previously obtained by Fox News from ChitownCrimeChasers showed large crowds filling streets and sidewalks, with some individuals climbing on cars, dancing in intersections and engaging in brief altercations. Residents reported dozens of vehicles damaged, with one local estimating roughly $1,000 in dents and destruction to his car.
Mayor Brandon Johnson answers questions during a news conference at Chicago City Hall on Feb. 25, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service)
Police said at least three curfew violations were issued and a 16-year-old girl was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and disorderly conduct in connection with that incident.
City officials have described the takeovers, often organized via social media, as part of a growing trend. Johnson himself has referred to them as “teen trends,” warning in a recent public message that authorities were tracking multiple such events across the city.
“They’re unsafe, and they can turn deadly,” the mayor said, urging parents to prevent their children from attending and noting police would enforce the city’s 10 p.m. curfew.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said “assaults against immigrants” have to end as Sheridan Gorman was laid to rest. (Jim Vondruska/Reuters)
The renewed concerns come amid heightened scrutiny of Johnson’s leadership on crime following the high-profile killing of 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago student Sheridan Gorman.
Authorities allege Jose Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan national in the country illegally, shot Gorman on March 19. Federal officials have said the suspect was released into the U.S. in 2023, fueling criticism from Republican leaders and others who argue current immigration and public safety policies are failing to deter crime.
Loyola University Chicago student Sheridan Gorman poses with the school’s mascot during a campus event in an undated photo. (Sheridan G. Gorman/Instagram)
Republican leaders have also criticized the handling of the case, pointing to what they describe as failed leadership and policies that allowed the suspect, who was released into the U.S. in 2023, to remain in the country.
Johnson has faced backlash for remarks made around the time of Gorman’s funeral, when he emphasized that “assaults against immigrants” must end and defended longstanding city policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
When asked whether he would apologize to Gorman’s family, the mayor pointed to policies predating his administration and offered condolences, saying no words could “properly console a family that lost their baby.”
Gorman’s family has called for accountability and change, saying her death should not be dismissed as a “senseless tragedy.”
Takeover warning
Chicago police officials said they were aware of Wednesday’s planned gathering and deployed additional resources to the Hyde Park area in advance.
In a statement, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said officers were assigned to monitor what he described as a “teen trend” that had been widely promoted on social media.
Snelling noted that similar gatherings in the past have led to “violence and criminal activity,” but said the response this time included parents and community members stepping in.
“The difference with last night is that parents in the community took a stand against the disorderly conduct seen at previous teen trends and organized their own takeover,” Snelling said, adding that families, school staff and officers worked together to encourage “safe and responsible conduct.”
He also emphasized that public safety efforts cannot fall solely on law enforcement, saying “every Chicagoan has a responsibility” to help keep young people safe.
The warning comes as similar “teen takeover” incidents have been reported in cities across the country, including a chaotic gathering in downtown Detroit over the weekend.
In that case, police said large crowds of teens flooded the area after organizing on social media, prompting a significant law enforcement response. Authorities said a gun was fired during the incident, though no injuries were reported, and multiple teens were detained as officers worked to clear the scene.
Dozens of teens gather in downtown Detroit during a chaotic “teen takeover” that prompted a police response. (N/A)
The incident unfolded just one day after Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield stood alongside community leaders and teen organizers to call for more safe spaces for youth, saying “enforcement alone is not the answer.”
Chicago officials have similarly described the gatherings as part of a growing trend, with Johnson previously warning that multiple “teen trends” were being tracked across the city and could “turn deadly.”
Police say they are monitoring social media for planned events and will enforce curfew laws as needed, while city leaders continue urging parents to keep track of their children’s whereabouts.