INDIANAPOLIS — We're learning more about the hundreds of unsupervised children the chief of IMPD said were downtown last weekend, some of which, police say, had weapons.
Some business owners told 13News they had to close early because of the large number of kids.
A woman who works on Illinois Street between Ohio and Maryland streets downtown said there were hundreds of unsupervised kids. She said some of them were yelling at one another, while others were fighting.
"So, what we were told, there was about 400 unsupervised kids were downtown. They were having problems with them again. Shots were fired. I think we were told there were robberies and attempted break-ins in police cars," said Rev. Dr. Charles Harrison, president of the Indianapolis Ten Point Coalition.
Harrison said he's been walking the streets of Indianapolis to keep kids out of trouble for 25 years.
But like the landscape of downtown, the challenges he faces have changed, too.
"Our major concern back then was getting the kids home without fights. Today, it's much different because you have so many kids with guns today," Harrison said.
The reverend said he, along with other ministers, try to help IMPD when it comes to unsupervised kids downtown late at night.
"Our very presence downtown tends to keep kids in line because we can say things to the kids, and the kids tend to respect us when we're down there," Harrison said.
RELATED: IMPD says they found 3 teens with guns over the weekend: Chief's remarks contradict their claim
In a statement from IMPD sent to 13News on Thursday, the department says three juveniles were arrested for having a weapon.
"Parents have to step up. If you have a 12-year-old, a 13-year-old, a 14-year-old, a 15-year-old, a 16-year-old, or a 17-year-old, you ought to know whether or not they have a weapon," Harrison said. "You should be responsible for them being downtown and making sure if they come, they act appropriately or what we would wish is that they would come with the parents so it would ensure they would behave appropriately."
13News' Chase Houle reached out to the chief Thursday for an interview about the large number of kids downtown, but an IMPD spokesperson said that they would not be making him available to talk.
Full statement from IMPD
"In a meeting earlier this week, Chief responded to a community member about the ease to access of firearms in our community. In response to that community member, he intended to convey that while there were crowds of juveniles downtown, too many of them, not “most” of them, had firearms. This clarification was provided to the reporter.
Further discussion on Chief’s statement, which has already been clarified, does not benefit the interest of public safety or our community.
IMPD did arrest three juveniles in downtown Indy this past weekend for dangerous possession of a firearm. IMPD continues to address and try to prevent juveniles from gaining access to firearms.
We are thankful to the analysts in the IMPD Real Time Crime Center who observed the juveniles on cameras and were able to immediately communicate to nearby officers who acted quickly. IMPD continues to ask parents and guardians to know where your children are, who they are with, and what they are doing."