Teens clash during a teen takeover gathering in Washington, D.C.'s Navy Yard neighborhood, April 2026.(Screenshot via @ScooterCasterNY/X)

You could argue that part of being a teenager is pushing boundaries; this teaches them what boundaries exist and why. But pushing boundaries does not have to include rioting, robbery, and assault. Such instances are indicative of an increasing lack of parental accountability.

Over the past year, “teen takeovers” have enraptured much of the nation’s youth. These takeovers begin as gatherings in public places like parks and malls, and they are often announced and planned via social media. Hundreds of teens attend such events to “meet up,” but violence and chaos sometimes follow.

https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/2043144465179627894

In a press conference last month, U.S. Attorney for ...

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