Raleigh Police warn parents of consequences for children participating in ‘takeovers’

The Raleigh Police Department issued a warning to parents and teens via social media on Friday, a week after “teen takeover” events on the night of July Fourth saw nine people shot and one injured by broken glass from a bullet.

“If you’re invited to a takeover, remember that just being there can put your future and your safety at risk,” Police Lt. David Davis said in a video posted the department’s social media accounts.

“Parents, if you knowingly and willingly allow your child to commit a criminal offense, you too may be held accountable,” he added.

“Takeovers” draw crowds that can block traffic, damage property and initiate violence, Davis said.

In accordance with North Carolina law, parents can be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor — a Class 1 misdemeanor — if they know, encourage or aid a juvenile to commit a crime. And parents could be required to pay up to $2,000 to a person if their child injures them or damages their property.

Police have turned to these statutes after other July Fourth mayhem in North Carolina. In 2023, Charlotte police arrested 17 juveniles and cited 15 of their parents after a group of teenagers tried to disrupt a Charlotte Knights’ fireworks show on the Fourth of July, charging the parents with contributing to delinquency for leaving the teens unsupervised.

What did Raleigh police know and when?

Social media: Police have said takeovers are driven by social media. So The News & Observer asked the city of Raleigh for examples of social media posts that called for last weekend’s “takeovers.”

The city provided one example, which called for a takeover at Moore Square on July Fourth. Police Chief Rico Boyce has said the department was aware of that planned gathering and arrived early enough to disperse a small crowd. There were no arrests at Moore Square, he said.

Boyce has said the department did not have any prior warning, via social media or otherwise, of the gatherings at Brier Creek and Glenwood South.

Minors and adults: Police have said the takeovers at both locations were driven by a large number of minors. Boyce said there were around 8,000 people at Glenwood South and 3,000 at Brier Creek.

Most of those arrested were adults, however. In total, the city says it has arrested 35 people in the takeovers. Six are juveniles, but the rest are adults.

The N&O asked for the names of the adults arrested. The city provided 27 names. The N&O requested for the remaining names, but as of Friday afternoon, had not received any.

Curfew fairness: Mayor Janet Cowell acknowledged the concern that minors could be unfairly punished by the city’s possible implementation of a curfew in the next few months.

However, she told The N&O in an interview Friday that the report she’s heard from police is that the vast majority of people out at Glenwood South and Brier Creek were under 18. She said police have described the adults as “ringleaders” to her.

The N&O also requested, and has not yet received, the following from RPD and the city:

• To speak directly with Boyce
• To share body camera or any other footage showing the takeover. The police have declined, saying it’s part of their ongoing investigation
• To provide information on how the individuals involved got to and from Glenwood South
• To provide more information on how word of the planned takeovers spread on social media
• If there was property damage at any of the scenes and what the estimated damage cost is
• If RPD has responded to similar incidents before and, if so, how those incidents compared to last weekend’s takeover
• Overtime costs associated with the police response on July 4 and 5

This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 4:39 PM.

Nolan Wilkinson

The News & Observer