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Screenshot WXYZ video
A 14-year-old boy was shot and wounded Sunday night during another teen takeover in downtown Detroit, WXYZ reports.
Police Chief Todd Bettison vowed to step up patrols and hold parents accountable for their children.
Two juveniles, ages 16 and 17, were taken into custody following the shooting, WXYZ reports. Police also say they recovered the gun they believe was used in the shooting.
Authorities said two large groups of teens came together, a fight broke out around Library Street, off Grand River, and someone fired multiple shots, WXYZ reports. The 14-year-old was shot in the chest but is expected to recover.
The shooting happened as the Detroit Pistons were playing Game 7 up the street at Little Caesars Arena before a sold-out crowd.
Some have criticized Sheffield, saying she needs to stop trying to be a friend of youth and show more authority and control over the teen gatherings.
The issue of teen takeovers first surfaced in April, and Sheffield responded by holding a press conference that included some of the teen organizers of a takeover that disrupted downtown.
At the time, Sheffield talked about the newly created Youth Advisory Committee, in which many young people have expressed interest in serving. She said at least 50 youths between 16 and 26 years old will meet monthly to have frank conversations about creating safe spaces for youth to gather, including in downtown Detroit.
"What I heard directly from our young people is that enforcement alone is not the answer. Our young people want to be invested in," Sheffield said. "They want to be heard, and they want to be part of something and feel like they belong."
"What we saw last week, hundreds of young people organizing, mobilizing and showing up," Sheffield said. "Yes, it raised concerns, but it also revealed something very powerful. It revealed leadership, it revealed connection among our young people, and it revealed the ability for our young people to galvanized and organize at a level that we cannot ignore. And our responsibility is not to shut that down but to channel it, to guide it, and to support it and to create pathways for it to be expressed in a positive, safe and productive way."
Detroit Rev. W.J. Rideout applauded Mayor Sheffield for her efforts to work with youth, and the police chief for the work he’s done.
“However, stepping up more police presence is the best thing we can do,” he said.
He said the city needs to have more youth community centers for teens, and hold parents accountable for their children.
"Stop having children if you're not going to be responsible for them," he said.
