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Youth gun violence resurfaces with the changing seasons
Law enforcement says things need to change to reduce youth gun violence.
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — After two incidents at parks in Golden Valley and Brooklyn Park, police departments say strategies need to change regarding youth gun violence.
Chief Virgil Green of the Golden Valley Police Department said the problem is resurfacing now that it’s warmer.
“It’s kind of going into spring and there has been a large group of kids throughout the Twin Cities area who are showing up at area parks.” said Virgil.
This past weekend, the chief says they found a boy suffering from a gunshot wound at Lions Park. There were other kids who arrived at hospitals with similar injuries that night.
Also this past weekend, Brooklyn Park Police responded to Willowstone Park for a shooting. When officers arrived, cars sped off and chased one vehicle until it crashed. They took two kids into custody who had handguns, and those two were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. They later arrested two other kids with guns. They say there were no injuries related to gunfire.
“A lot of this violence, we believe, is tied together,” said Inspector Elliot Faust with Brooklyn Park Police. “And the nature of the connection is still a little bit unclear.”
Brooklyn Park Police are still piecing the shooting together, but one thing is obvious to them. That the trend of youth violence continues to grow.
Faust says violent crimes with youth are prevalent, but not new. So the department wants to try something different.
“We’re going to have folks that work very closely with the police department, that also work very closely with the community, that have close strong ties with the community,” he said. “And they can go out and… focus on youth that we think could be going down the wrong path.”
They’re hiring people who aren’t law enforcement such as those who have worked in schools or community centers to work with officers.
“It’s no secret that trust in law enforcement is an issue in our community, it has been for years,” said Faust. “We think that these folks are better situated to direct them to the other path. And we… probably will have a role to play in that. But I think, by and large, the main strategy is to use people that are not police officers that have those different skill sets.”
They hope this new approach will lead to new results.
Both departments say another big issue that they face is that too often juveniles can get back on the street quickly, even after violent crimes. They also agree kids should not only get help, but should be held accountable for their actions.
“They’re back out on the street, and they’re back out committing the same kind of crime,” said Green. “They’re being released very quickly back into the community.”
Both Green and Faust said youth crime will need to be handled with community effort, and immediate steps taken by the department include added patrols to parks.
“Everybody is a stakeholder in making sure that their communities are safe,” said Faust.
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Interstate 94 South is closed at Dowling Avenue as police investigate an overnight incident.
MINNEAPOLIS — A portion of I-94 is closed Sunday morning as officials investigate an incident that happened on Saturday night.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, all southbound traffic in the area is being directed to exit the interstate at Dowling Avenue near Minneapolis.
Officials ask the public to stay clear of the area and find an alternate route if possible.
It is unknown how long the closure will be in place.
KARE 11 will update this story when more information is released by officials.
Tonya Yarmakov, 23, was reported missing from Savanna State Park on Sept. 4.
NORTHFIELD, Minn. — On Friday night, a Minnesota college held a vigil for a woman reported missing more than two weeks ago.
St. Olaf College in Northfield hosted a candlelight vigil for 23-year-old Tonya Yarmakov, who was last seen on Sept. 4 while camping with her family in Savanna State Park near McGregor, Minnesota.
The Aikin County Sheriff’s Office said family members allegedly told authorities they left Yarmakov alone on a dock as they went fishing, and around noon, saw her get up and run away.
She is 5 feet tall and has dark brown hair. The sheriff said she was last seen wearing a rainbow tie-dyed t-shirt, gym shorts, black shoes and black headphones.
Yarmakov has autism and Type 1 diabetes, causing greater concern for her welfare, authorities said.
Officials said they’ve used drones, dogs and planes to search for the missing woman.
If you have information about Yarmakov’s current whereabouts, the Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office urges you to contact them at 218-927-7435 or call 911.
Saturday’s event includes helpful resources for caregivers and anyone impacted by dementia.
MINNEAPOLIS — Thousands of people are pouring into downtown Minneapolis Saturday morning for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Twin Cities.
KARE 11’s Karla Hult is emceeing the walk – one of the largest walks in the country, with 7,000 to 10,000 people attending – along with Gabi Del Moral of Telemundo Minnesota.
“Those of us who know Alzheimer’s or another dementia, also know this disease can feel so overwhelming and isolating,” said Hult, whose dad finished his Alzheimer’s marathon in 2019.
“It’s why I’ve always cherished the Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” Hult said. “There’s just nothing like connecting with a stadium full of people who understand how it feels to live with this cruel disease. Together, we find incomparable empathy and support. Together, we find new strength to fight. And together, we find the joy that still exists during the journey.”
The event includes helpful resources for caregivers and anyone impacted by dementia.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, money raised from the event provides local support groups, classes and resources at no cost to Minnesota families. The Alzheimer’s Association is also a significant champion and supporter of critical dementia research, including research projects currently happening in Minnesota.
This year the goal is to raise $1.5M through the event.
More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide unpaid care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Minnesota alone, there are 101,000 people living with Alzheimer’s and 164,000 unpaid caregivers support them.
