Police respond to Moody Park for report of shots fired during a ‘teen takeover’
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A spring night in a Milwaukee County park turned chaotic on Monday after a large fight and gunfire broke out. Police say no one was hurt, but it's part of a growing trend of “teen takeovers” happening across the area.
Local leaders say the trend has been tied to social media, and now, community leaders say they’re trying to get teens to redirect these takeovers and turn them into something positive.
The signs on the wall and steps in Moody Park send a message of peace and community. But on Monday night, chaos and gunfire echoed in the streets.
“Teens organizing online, a lot of times the parents are unaware. They’re not on TikTok, they’re not on Snapchat,” said Tory Lowe, a community cleanup organizer and activist.
Milwaukee police say a large fight and gunfire broke out in Milwaukee County’s Moody Park on Burleigh Street shortly before 7 p.m. Police say no one was injured, but a 17-year-old girl was arrested.
A separate takeover happened at Bayshore Mall in Glendale on Sunday; 14 people were arrested, the youngest just 12 years old.
“Swarming the space isn’t going to get you arrested but starting a fight in the middle of the street or threatening clerks or brandishing a weapon — those are the things that are going to get law enforcement involved,” said Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy.
Both events were referred to as “teen takeovers” on social media.
“If those kids could just get their energy directed into a more positive space and use that energy to build instead of destroy, it would be a powerful thing,” said Lowe.
Lowe, who organizes an annual community cleanup, says he’s trying to meet them where they are by using the same tactics.
“I had got a flyer. I had got a real flyer, but I saw that and I said, if this is what they’re responding to, let me duplicate what they’re responding to as a way to signal to them, hey, we can take that energy and put it in more positive space where the community can be beautified,” said Lowe.
In a video posted to Facebook, County Executive David Crowley made a plea to kids involved in these takeovers, not as an elected official, but as someone who grew up in Milwaukee.
“I’m not going to act like everything is good, because it's not,” said Crowley.
Kennedy says his message is pretty simple.
“I think it just comes down to don’t do stupid stuff,” said Kennedy.
Lowe says he hopes kids from these takeovers at Bayshore Mall and Moody Park come to the cleanup on April 18, to not only help their community but also get connected with other resources and places to hang out in a safe manner.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee police at (414) 935-7252 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-TIPS or P3 Tips App.