After Naperville police allegedly found a 14-year-old carrying a loaded, semiautomatic pistol at a downtown “teen takeover” event last weekend, authorities are urging safety and, again, stressed they have zero tolerance for illicit behavior.
“While we encourage everyone to exercise their first amendment right and we encourage everyone to enjoy what the downtown provides, we need everyone to do that lawfully,” Naperville police Cmdr. Rick Krakow said. “There’s going to be zero tolerance for any sort of criminal behavior, from trespassing to disorderly conduct to fighting.”
Since May 1, there have been seven planned teen takeover events in Naperville, each with varying degrees of participation, Krakow said.
The latest, held Saturday, resulted in five arrests, including that of the 14-year-old, who was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a weapon, authorities said. Charges in other arrests included disorderly conduct and battery, Krakow said, adding that he had no reports of injuries from the incidents.
Police estimated about 150 people were involved with Saturday’s takeover. Asked when the gathering took place, Krakow couldn’t give an exact time but said that “when the sun starts to go down, the activity tends to ramp up.”
Police were aware of the gathering ahead of time as it had been advertised on social media and assigned eight to 10 officers to be there, he said. There also were a few school resource officers patrolling the downtown as part of their normal assignment when schools aren’t in session, Krakow said.
Even prior to the takeover, downtown Naperville was abuzz with activity. At the Naperville Municipal Center, a few thousand demonstrators gathered for a “No Kings” rally while Naperville’s fourth annual Juneteenth celebration took place over at Rotary Hill. And along Jackson Avenue, there was a classic car show.
Despite the activity, staffing the events “was not an issue,” Krakow said.
“Staffing those events, especially all in one day, can be difficult,” he said. “But the men and women of the Naperville Police Department are dedicated and committed to the safety of everyone downtown or any area where there’s going to be large gatherings.”
In the wake of Saturday’s takeover, Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the 14-year-old’s arrest on firearm-related charges was a “wake-up call” and “reminder that safety isn’t something that we can take for granted.”
“Our kids need us,” he wrote. “They need mentors, guidance, support, and, sometimes, someone to step in before things go too far. We can’t afford to look the other way. If you see a young person struggling, reach out. If something feels wrong, report it.”
Speaking to the incident, Krakow addressed parents and guardians, urging them to “know where and what your teenager is participating in.”
Naperville police previously emphasized zero tolerance for unlawfulness after two takeover events took place the weekend of May 17-18, leading to the issuance of numerous citations and two arrests.
There were similar incidents in 2023, including one in which police had to be dispatched downtown to break up a group of about 150.
Such gatherings are not unique to Naperville.
Takeovers have become commonplace in Chicago’s downtown neighborhoods over the past few years.
