LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Louisville police are warning the public about a concerning trend involving kids on bikes, wearing masks carrying fake guns.
At a news conference Wednesday, Louisville Metro Police didn’t identify specific neighborhoods, but they said there has been an increase in calls about the trend.
So now police are asking parents if they are aware of what their children are doing. LMPD said children as young as nine-years-old have been found with fake guns that look very real.
LMPD Deputy Chief Ryan Bates said it could be hard for many people to determine if the fake guns are real or not. Even some officers have a tough time discerning whether the weapons are legit.
“We are using this as a moment to ask parents to talk to their kids, see what they’re doing. If you can look at their phones, look at the social media,” Bates said. “See if they’re engaging in any behavior outside of your value.”
LMPD said it’s worried about the safety of children, if someone thinks they’re armed. Police encourage families to be aware, to be involved in their children’s daily activities and to utilize programs across the city to help keep kids off the streets.
Louisville Metro Councilwoman Donna Purvis, D-5, represents the district including the Chickasaw, Portland, Russell and Shawnee neighborhoods.
She sounded a similar alarm in early June about “youth traveling through neighborhoods wearing hoodies, masks, and in some cases brandishing weapons.”
Purvis said the incidents have happened during drop-off and pick-up times near “several” day care centers in her district.
“The safety of our children and community members is our top priority,” Purvis said. “We urge all residents and caregivers to remain vigilant during these hours.”
The latest LMPD crime statistics show about a 31 percent reduction in both homicides and non fatal shootings compared to this time last year. But of the 53 homicides since January, about 40 percent of those victims were under the age of 24.
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