The scene has become increasingly common: dozens, maybe even hundreds of teenagers in Florida and across the nation converge at a beach, a parking lot, a park or a mall after word spreads quickly online.
Sometimes there’s violence or vandalism, such as the late May weekend shooting in Clearwater Beach, Florida, that left a 17-year-old wounded and a 16-year-old facing attempted murder and other charges. The wounded boy is expected to recover.
The same weekend there were two disturbing incidents that quickly erupted in Chicago, including one on Lake Michigan’s beach.
The incidents have increased so much that there’s a label to them now — “teen takeovers.”
At their basic level, teen takeovers are viral, social media-organized gatherings where young people descend on public areas like community malls, parks or beaches. Some attend without any intention of violence or law-breaking actions, but often the scene rapidly descends into chaos complete with vandalism and clashes with police.
In recent weeks, Florida incidents have been reported in Tampa and Orlando. Nationally, there have been teen takeovers in Milwaukee, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., New Jersey and the Bronx, New York.
Teenagers looking for things to do and getting into trouble — especially when they are emboldened with strength in numbers — isn’t something new. However, they can organize much quicker and efficiently thanks to social media now along with video evidence that there is an event to “see or be seen.” It carries a lot more weight than mobilization from word-of-mouth.
The teen takeover craze: Experts say young people need social interaction
Young people are drawn to these events to meet others, enjoy a day or night out and form relationships, said Georgetown University law professor Kristin Henning, director of the school’s Juvenile Justice Clinic & Initiative.
“The prevalence of cellphones and social media just make it easier for young people to get together faster and in larger groups,” Henning said in an email. “There is nothing inherently dangerous about a teen takeover. Unfortunately, they have gotten a bad rap because of the very small number of young people who engage is some sort of delinquent behavior at these events.”
Another factor could be traced to the Covid pandemic, where many middle schoolers spent time isolated and now are craving an outlet for more social interaction.
Teen takeovers have occurred in several Florida cities
These takeovers have occurred in a number of Florida cities including Orlando, Pensacola and Tampa where 22 arrests were made after a May 8 gathering downtown got unruly and led to vandalism of businesses and other property.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, whose agency responded to the Clearwater disturbance, said most of the teenagers at the takeover were from out of town and were not initially causing problems at the beach community. The shooting happened after two groups who knew each other from Winter Haven got into an altercation.
“It went from zero to a lot very fast,” he said. “They weren’t throwing rocks, they weren’t throwing bottles, they weren’t doing things other than being there. Sometimes stuff just happens.”
Similarly, the May gathering at a Tampa park did not initially start out with violence or vandalism but quickly escalated, said Police Chief Lee Bercaw. Some of those arrested were just 12 years old.
“This type of reckless and criminal behavior will not be tolerated in our city,” Bercaw said in a news release. “Parents need to know where their children are and who they are with.”
And many aren’t necessarily spontaneous. In Wellington, there is a planned teen takeover this weekend at the Wellington Mall after a flyer circulating online encouraged participants to “bring your crew, bring the energy, let’s take over.”
Local law enforcement said it is monitoring the planned event.
State officials are vowing a crackdown on teen takeovers
These incidents led Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to post this week on social media “congrats: you have my attention. This behavior is unacceptable, and I’m having our Statewide Prosecutors develop a plan to investigate and prosecute those who are responsible for these events. Stay tuned. More to come.”
In St. Augustin Beach, police learned of a planned takeover on Thursday at the pier and announced it was canceled.
“While we welcome and encourage everyone to enjoy our community and beaches, any unlawful gathering, criminal activity, or disturbance of the peace will be met with immediate enforcement action,” the department said in a social media statement.
There are often heightened tensions when the kids at the takeover are Black or brown and in upscale neighborhoods, said Henning, the Georgetown law professor.
“These youth are disproportionately stopped, searched and frisked by authorities responding to reports from local residents and business owners who perceive these youth as presumptively violent, criminal and threatening,” Henning said.
“By sensationalizing these events, we condition the public to demonize and punish the masses of children in response to the behavior of a very few bad actors,” she added.
In the Clearwater shooting, the 16-year-old charged in the case was being held in the Polk County jail. Clearwater police say he’s charged with attempted second-degree murder, discharging a firearm in public, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a minor.
The victim was shot three times, authorities added, but is expected to recover. Neither teenager’s name has been made public.
Police, parents and other authorities must recognize that young people have a need to socialize, make friends and basically hang out together. Those with few alternatives might be more interested in a large gathering such as a “takeover,” Henning said.
“We should worry more about young people who isolate themselves from others and don’t cultivate healthy bonds with other youth,” she said.
Curt Anderson is the Policy and Politics Reporter for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY at https://tallahassee.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: What’s driving the violent, disturbing ‘teen takeovers’ in Florida?
Reporting by Curt Anderson, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Tallahassee Democrat
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By Curt Anderson, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
