DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced Monday that her office was cracking down on teen violence in Washington following a wild brawl caught on video this past weekend.
Pirro threatened to prosecute both teenagers and their parents under federal statutes for contributing to the delinquency of minors — which could earn offenders up to six months in prison.
“What happened this past Saturday night at Chipotle in the Navy Yard, and what we’re seeing increasingly across the district is not only unacceptable, it is violent, it is dangerous, and it is illegal,” Pirro told reporters at a news conference.
“And I am here to tell you it’s going to stop,” she said. “And, parents, I’m talking about you. … We’re looking at the parents to make sure that they understand that they are responsible for the upheaval that is going on in this district that is impacting everyone who lives here.”
Pirro also said: “These are not harmless gatherings. They are violent and they are disruptive. And you can see from what happened at Chipotle this past weekend, it was not just violence occurring between individuals. It was simply destruction of property. It was a takeover of a restaurant by individuals who felt that they could get away with it.”
“The city belongs to law-abiding residents, not roaming mobs looking to make a name for themselves or to contribute to the chaos or violence, and to get social media attention,” she added.
“We’re coming for you and we’re coming for your parents,” she declared, threatening charges and fines up to $500 for all curfew violators as well.
