19-year-old killed and 6 others injured in July 4 Florida ‘teen takeover’
A 19-year-old man was killed and six others were injured in a shooting rampage that occurred overnight after hundreds of young people packed downtown Pensacola, Florida, on July 4, police said.
Police described it as follows:young takeoverIt started with middle school-aged children holding fireworks and escalated into an increasingly dangerous situation as older teenagers and young adults filled the streets Saturday night and into Sunday morning.
Officers responded to the shooting shortly after 1 a.m. and began providing medical care to injured victims on the ground.
Despite efforts to save the 19-year-old with CPR, he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
Pensacola Police Chief Eric Winstrom said he spoke with the victim’s grieving mother, adding: “He deserves justice and he deserves answers, and we will do everything we can to get him that.”
The other six victims, ages 16 to 26, were receiving medical care at various hospitals and all were expected to survive, Winstrom said at a news conference Sunday morning.
Police are now appealing for the public’s help in finding one or more armed attackers responsible for the attack, which is believed to have been targeted. As of Sunday morning, no suspects had been identified.
Winstrom said the Pensacola Police Department has nearly tripled its staff in the area in anticipation of crowded holiday celebrations.
“We had approximately 50 extra police officers there, and despite the presence of that police, someone had the courage to commit this heinous act of violence this morning,” Winstrom said.
Young adults, teenagers and children were engaging in what the chief described as “frightening behavior” throughout the night.
Police encountered youths fighting, throwing fireworks at others and carrying handguns. Winstrom said officers made several arrests throughout the night unrelated to the shooting.
Authorities call mass gatherings of unaccompanied teenagers — which sometimes turn into chaos or violence — teen takeovers. Winstrom said his department is dealing with them in other areas around Pensacola. While the meetings may seem harmless at first glance, the police chief emphasized how they can become dangerous.
And it’s not just Pensacola. Including cities across the country Orlando, Washington, DC and New Yorkis grappling with how to respond to the latest trend in teen takeovers, often orchestrated on social media or via mass messaging. Some areas have moved to impose curfews on young residents.
Winstrom urged families in her community to keep track of their children’s whereabouts and keep them out of potentially dangerous situations.
“Be involved in your children’s lives,” Winstrom said.
CNN’s Eric Levenson contributed to this report.
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