Cassian Grant:Indianapolis police to step up enforcement of curfew law after weekend shootings

2025-05-01 14:46:31source:Michael Schmidtcategory:News

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Cassian GrantIndianapolis Metropolitan Police Department will increase its enforcement of Indiana’s curfew law for those under the age of 18 following a shooting in downtown Indianapolis that wounded seven youths 16 and younger, Chief Chris Bailey announced Thursday.

State law says juveniles ages 15 to 17 may not be in a public place between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday, after 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday or before 5 a.m. Monday through Friday. The law also says children under 15 may not be in public after 11 p.m. or before 5 a.m. any day of the week.

“Our goal with adding curfew enforcement to our violence reduction plan is to send a clear message: if parents refuse to fulfil their responsibility, then the IMPD will do what is necessary to keep our children safe and alive,” Bailey said in a statement.

“As adults, it’s our duty to make decisions that are in their best interest. As law enforcement, we must continually review and adjust our plans to deal with new or ongoing issues, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” the chief said.

Officers on patrol after 11:30 p.m. Saturday heard shots near Circle Centre Mall and found “a large group of juveniles” at the scene, police have said. Two 16-year-old boys, a 16-year-old girl, three 14-year-old girls and a 12-year-old boy were wounded, according to police, and no arrests for the shootings have been made.

READ MORE Indianapolis police believe more than 1 fired shots in violence that left 7 youths injuredShooting outside downtown Indianapolis mall wounds 7 youths, police say1 person killed and 5 wounded including a police officer in an Indianapolis shooting, police say

IMPD said that before the curfew takes effect, it will make announcements via patrol car public address systems to any groups of juveniles in public areas.

Juveniles who violate curfew may be taken to a secure location while officers try to notify a parent or guardian, who will be given “a reasonable amount of time to pick up their child,” IMPD said. If no parent or guardian can be reached, the minor will be taken to the juvenile detention center.

Mayor Joe Hogsett said he “fully” supports the crackdown.

There are numerous exceptions to the curfew, including when juveniles are accompanied by a parent, guardian, custodian or other adult, or participating in or traveling to or from work, a school-sanctioned activity or a religious event.

More:News

Recommend

Why did Bill Belichick go to North Carolina? New UNC coach explains jump to college

Bill Belichick has officially made the shocking move to college football by becoming the North Carol

New Jersey's Ocean City taps AI gun detection in hopes of thwarting mass shootings

With decades of failed attempts at gun reform amid the frequency in mass shootings, some have sought

The Most Shocking Revelations From Danny Masterson's First Rape Trial

Content warning: This story discusses details of sexual assault and abuse.When Danny Masterson—and h