Chicago, Illinois – Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) is advocating for a curfew for unaccompanied minors in downtown Chicago following an assault on a couple by a group of teenagers. The incident occurred near Grand Avenue and McClurg Court in Streeterville, where the couple was attacked while on a date around 9 p.m.
According to Chicago police, a 40-year-old man was repeatedly hit in the head by a 14-year-old boy, while a 17-year-old girl pulled out the woman’s hair. The woman, who was two weeks pregnant at the time of the attack, later discovered she had lost the pregnancy as a result of the violent encounter.
Both teenagers involved in the assault were arrested and charged with battery, although Ald. Hopkins deemed the charges as “entirely inappropriate” given the severity of the attack. He has urged the Cook County state’s attorney’s office to elevate the charges to a felony due to the assailants’ aggressive actions.
Hopkins is calling for the implementation of an 8 p.m. curfew on minors in the Central Business District and downtown Chicago to prevent similar incidents from occurring. The proposed curfew would require minors to be accompanied by an adult in these areas after 8 p.m.
In a statement, Ald. Hopkins expressed his concerns over the violent and chaotic behavior instigated by a few individuals among groups of minors in the downtown area. He emphasized the need to address and prevent such activities to ensure the safety of residents and visitors in the city.
To enforce the curfew, police would have the authority to issue citations to minors found in violation of the new regulation. Recent nights have seen an increased police presence outside establishments like the AMC River East theater in Streeterville, where individuals under 18 were barred from entry as part of safety measures.
The proposed curfew aims to deter unruly behavior among minors in downtown Chicago and create a safer environment for everyone in the city. Ald. Hopkins hopes that the initiative will help prevent similar incidents and maintain peace in the community.