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Posted on 06/25/2026 9:02:37 PM PDT by Red Badger
Law enforcement officers in Detroit detained 180 teenagers for violating curfew during another teen takeover event. An officer shot an 18-year-old during the chaos while pursuing the individual on foot at Cadillac Square during a Fourth of July celebration. Several firearms were also confiscated. Strangely, Police Chief Todd Bettison referred to the evening as one of the most peaceful fireworks events in recent memory.
A 19-year-old was taken into custody after officers discovered he was carrying a Draco-style firearm in his backpack. The 18-year-old who was shot by law enforcement is now listed in serious condition. Cadillac Square resident and educator Zack Herman stated that he had just parked his vehicle around 6:25 p.m. when the shooting took place.
“I heard pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, and I went, ‘Oh, are they already shooting off fireworks?’ Because it didn’t sound like a normal gunshot,” Herman recounted. The educator then said, “I could see a gun on the ground… and there was blood on the ground as well.” Bettison went on to say that officers saw a group of young men carrying a backpack that looked unusually heavy. When the bag was searched, they found the Draco-style firearm.
“That individual was also armed, and that individual that we stopped with a backpack is in jail right now,” Bettison said, according to a report from WXYZ. The police chief then said the discovery likely saved lives and prevented an escalation of violence. “And we have that Draco-style weapon, and we possibly prevented him from doing something nefarious with it,” Bettison said.
Bettison spoke at a Detroit City Council public safety meeting on June 23, 2026, saying that the department was collaborating with other agencies to come up with ways to combat the teen takeover activity. The 180 teens who were arrested for curfew violations had their parents issued citations as well. “It was a collaborative multi-agency approach, and I thought that we did a great job,” Bettison said.
The chief of police was then asked if the current curfew enforcement and resources being utilized by the department were proving to be effective in addressing teen takeovers. Bettison replied that the answers speak for themselves. “Yeah, I think so. I think the proof is in the pudding. I mean, um, you haven’t seen a large teen takeover in the city of Detroit, um, in, in a while,” Bettison answered.
A post sharing a video of the takeover revealed that a black woman with a baby was attacked during the mayhem, holding her baby out the window to try and dissuade further violence against her while she was in her vehicle. Jasmine Kennedy, who works in downtown Detroit said that contrary to Bettison’s claims the curfew is not working.
Kennedy’s colleague Kiana Murray said they believe the curfew is necessary and that Detroit police have done a good job of keeping the area safe. Murray added that the parents of the teens causing problems need to step up to the plate and take more responsibility.
“I’m gonna say the parents need to be more aware because I’m probably sure they knew what the kids were doing, but probably didn’t think they were going to come down and fight,” Murray told the media. Herman agrees. “I work with teenagers day in and day out down here, and we need to hold parents accountable. It’s the only way,” Herman stated.
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Things always get a lot better once they throw those disgusting Republicans out.
Either he's trying to make Detroit look better, or past events have been much more violent.
Urban America is unlivable.
They should shoot a few dozen - or a few hundred - more.
Quiet things down and improve society.
Obama’s chilren.
Yeah, that should work pretty well!
Excellent maternal instincts in this one, that's for sure!
Regards,
Nothing says ‘celebrate July 4th’ like shooting up cars and kids.
Sadly.
Agreed.
Those darn dangerous white nationalists at it again! /s
Whatever happened to tear gas?
Why isn’t it used anymore?
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