Raleigh Police Chief Boyce pushes for juvenile curfew after ‘teen takeover’ shootings
Police Chief Rico Boyce asked city leaders Tuesday for a curfew for those under 17 to fight “teen takeovers” like those that flooded streets and led to multiple shootings in downtown Raleigh last weekend.
“We need to start looking at what a curfew looks like here in the capital city,” Boyce told the City Council, days after he said 300 police officers responded to thousands of juveniles who gathered in Brier Creek and Glenwood South over the July Fourth weekend.
Raleigh police made 29 arrests, filed four juvenile petitions and seized 11 firearms, Boyce said as officers attempted to quell the crowds.
“We were prepared for crowd size,” he said. “We were not prepared for the amount of firearms we were recovering.”
Boyce also suggested backpack restrictions for juveniles in certain areas.
“We find that there’s typically a gun or guns in that backpack” in situations where police end up searching them, he said.
Mayor Janet Cowell told Boyce she supports a curfew and that the fastest the city could move on would be August.
“I think this whole council is absolutely willing to back you on a curfew,” she said.
The city attorney has to draft it, and the ordinance has to be worded so that it does not infringe on people’s rights, Cowell said.
“Under Raleigh city code ... I can as mayor enact emergency measures and pass an ordinance,” she added.
And she said she’s “absolutely willing to do that in the interim” if needed.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
This story was originally published July 7, 2026 at 3:29 PM.
