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Charlotte leaders say they're battling surge in teen violence

By Stephanie Maxwell
By Stephanie Maxwell

Charlotte leaders said they're battling a surge in violent crime committed by teens, and experts said parents play a huge role.

Eyewitness news anchor Stephanie Maxwell talked to experts who said what kids are watching on computers and cellphones is part of the problem.

Last month Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested several other teens for robbing a Southeast Charlotte convenience store at gunpoint, one of the teens just 13 years-old.

Police then arrested two teens, ages 13 and 14 years-old, accused of firing shots at CMPD officers and then leading them on a chase.

Six teenagers were charged with a string of break-ins, having stolen cars and trying to break into several gun stores.

“The media contributes. They're not the leading cause of mass murders or kids breaking into gun stores, but they contribute,” Dr. Vic Strasburger, University of New Mexico professor of pediatrics emeritus, said.

Strasburger is talking about violent video games, movies and music. He's one of the experts from Friday’s Youth Violence Prevention conference at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.

They advised teachers, parents and law enforcement about how they can turn this surge in teen violence around.

“Violence is sensationalized to our youth, and we have to be the counterbalance to that and say there are real consequences,” Dr. David Jacobs, CMC violence prevention committee member, said.

Experts said the hours and hours young people spend watching violent media, even on their phones, is a big part of the problem.

They said parents should discourage media violence exposure to children under 8, and it should be limited for older ones.

“I think parents need to be aware of what media their kids are using. They need to watch with their kids and talk about the content,” Strasburger said.

But it's not just parents who need to get involved. Panelists said it's up to everyone in the community because kids' bad decisions affect all of us.

The group Common Sense Media said kids are now using media six to nine hours a day, and a good portion of that media is violent.

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