Chicago mayor warns of ‘teen trend’ after takeover chaos, violence concerns grow

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson warned of a imaginable "teen trend" lawsuit connected the city’s South Side, avoiding the word "takeover" arsenic the mob scenes person caused mayhem successful the Windy City and different communities crossed the state recently.

On Wednesday, Johnson urged parents to support adjacent tabs connected their children amid ongoing concerns astir gatherings that person antecedently turned chaotic.

"Chicago, determination are credible reports of a teen inclination forming successful Hyde Park aboriginal today," Johnson wrote connected societal media Wednesday. "Parents, beryllium alert of wherever your children are going this evening. DO NOT let your children to be 1 of these gatherings; they are unsafe and tin often crook violent."

"Together we tin support our younker and our communities safe," helium added.

Groups of young radical took implicit the streets 1 nighttime successful Hyde Park, Chicago. (X/Chitown_Crime_Chasers)

Images circulating connected societal media look to amusement an earlier mentation of the mayor’s station referring to the gathering arsenic a "takeover" earlier it was changed to "trend," though Fox News Digital has not independently verified the authenticity of those images.

Fox News Digital reached retired to Johnson for comment.

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The informing follows a bid of akin incidents that person unfolded successful caller weeks, including a March 30 gathering successful Hyde Park that drew hundreds of teenagers and stretched precocious into the night.

Video antecedently obtained by Fox News from ChitownCrimeChasers showed ample crowds filling streets and sidewalks, with immoderate individuals climbing connected cars, dancing successful intersections and engaging successful little altercations. Residents reported dozens of vehicles damaged, with 1 section estimating astir $1,000 successful dents and demolition to his car.

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Mayor Brandon Johnson answers questions during a quality league astatine Chicago City Hall connected Feb. 25, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service)

Police said astatine slightest 3 curfew violations were issued and a 16-year-old miss was charged with unlawful possession of a limb and disorderly behaviour successful transportation with that incident.

City officials person described the takeovers, often organized via societal media, arsenic portion of a increasing trend. Johnson himself has referred to them arsenic "teen trends," informing successful a caller nationalist connection that authorities were tracking aggregate specified events crossed the city.

"They’re unsafe, and they tin crook deadly," the politician said, urging parents to forestall their children from attending and noting constabulary would enforce the city’s 10 p.m. curfew.

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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said "assaults against immigrants" person to extremity arsenic Sheridan Gorman was laid to rest. (Jim Vondruska/Reuters)

The renewed concerns travel amid heightened scrutiny of Johnson’s enactment connected transgression pursuing the high-profile sidesplitting of 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago pupil Sheridan Gorman.

Authorities allege Jose Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan nationalist successful the state illegally, changeable Gorman connected March 19. Federal officials person said the fishy was released into the U.S. successful 2023, fueling disapproval from Republican leaders and others who reason existent migration and nationalist information policies are failing to deter crime.

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Loyola University Chicago pupil Sheridan Gorman poses with the school’s mascot during a field lawsuit successful an undated photo. (Sheridan G. Gorman/Instagram)

Republican leaders person besides criticized the handling of the case, pointing to what they picture arsenic failed enactment and policies that allowed the suspect, who was released into the U.S. successful 2023, to stay successful the country.

Johnson has faced backlash for remarks made astir the clip of Gorman’s funeral, erstwhile helium emphasized that "assaults against immigrants" indispensable extremity and defended longstanding metropolis policies limiting practice with national migration enforcement.

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When asked whether helium would apologize to Gorman’s family, the politician pointed to policies predating his medication and offered condolences, saying nary words could "properly console a household that mislaid their baby."

Gorman’s household has called for accountability and change, saying her decease should not beryllium dismissed arsenic a "senseless tragedy."

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Takeover warning

Chicago constabulary officials said they were alert of Wednesday's planned gathering and deployed further resources to the Hyde Park country successful advance.

In a statement, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said officers were assigned to show what helium described arsenic a "teen trend" that had been wide promoted connected societal media.

Snelling noted that akin gatherings successful the past person led to "violence and transgression activity," but said the effect this clip included parents and assemblage members stepping in.

"The quality with past nighttime is that parents successful the assemblage took a basal against the disorderly behaviour seen astatine erstwhile teen trends and organized their ain takeover," Snelling said, adding that families, schoolhouse unit and officers worked unneurotic to promote "safe and liable conduct."

He besides emphasized that nationalist information efforts cannot autumn solely connected instrumentality enforcement, saying "every Chicagoan has a responsibility" to assistance support young radical safe.

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The informing comes arsenic akin "teen takeover" incidents person been reported successful cities crossed the country, including a chaotic gathering successful downtown Detroit implicit the weekend.

In that case, constabulary said ample crowds of teens flooded the country aft organizing connected societal media, prompting a important instrumentality enforcement response. Authorities said a weapon was fired during the incident, though nary injuries were reported, and aggregate teens were detained arsenic officers worked to wide the scene.

Dozens of teens stitchery successful downtown Detroit during a chaotic "teen takeover" that prompted a constabulary response. (N/A)

The incidental unfolded conscionable 1 time aft Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield stood alongside assemblage leaders and teen organizers to telephone for much harmless spaces for youth, saying "enforcement unsocial is not the answer."

Chicago officials person likewise described the gatherings arsenic portion of a increasing trend, with Johnson antecedently informing that aggregate "teen trends" were being tracked crossed the metropolis and could "turn deadly."

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Police accidental they are monitoring societal media for planned events and volition enforce curfew laws arsenic needed, portion metropolis leaders proceed urging parents to support way of their children’s whereabouts.

Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Adam Sabes contributed to this report.