(NewsNation) — After weekend shootings in Chicago, the debate over crime has been reignited, with President Donald Trump suggesting the federal government could send troops to help, something local leaders have rejected.
This weekend included a “teen takeover,” something that has been happening across the country, with chaos ensuing when hundreds of teenagers take over an area.
This weekend in Chicago, word quickly spread on social media, with hundreds of teenagers showing up in the downtown area where the annual Christmas tree lighting had taken place.
Within about 30 minutes, there were two shootings within 30 minutes of each other. A 13-year-old girl was shot, a 14-year-old boy was killed, and 18 others were arrested, with at least five guns confiscated.
Armani Floyd, 14, was a young man who loved playing basketball. He leaves behind a mother and a sister.
Multiple rewards are being offered for information that might lead to an arrest in Floyd’s killing, and funeral arrangements for the teen are being laid out.
NewsNation local affiliate WGN spoke to one of his mentors, who described Floyd as a bright kid, intelligent and funny, with his whole life ahead of him.
“Regardless of what we may see online, I know for sure in my heart, and my experience with Armani was a great kid. One of our coaches just wrote me today and talked about, even outside the basketball gym, Armani helped him move into his house, right?” said McKinley Nelson. “So, just a caring kid, a 14-year-old kid [who] never gave any of the coaches problems.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is urging parents to keep their kids home and away from these teen takeovers.
“Our young people have to understand that they should not attend these unauthorised events that have been advertised on social media,” Johnson said. “These types of violent gatherings can never be an alternative, nor can they be normalised.”
NewsNation has been taking a hard look at crime statistics since Trump began focusing on Chicago. This weekend was particularly violent, with more than 17 shootings from Friday through Sunday, resulting in 28 victims.
Local leaders, including Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, have pointed to crime statistics that show a decrease in crime, including murders, robberies and aggravated battery in the city of about three million people.
But when you look specifically at District One, where the teen takeover happened, an area that includes the Chicago Loop and much of the downtown area, the statistics are less positive.
In fact, crime statistics in that specific area are going up in some categories.
That’s why a lot of city leaders have been considering, over and over, whether or not they should implement a curfew in the downtown area for teenagers.