Latest news with #TyMcKay
CBS News
26-06-2025
- CBS News
Concerns rise in Denver about youth violence after troubling scene outside mall
Police say nearly 300 teens gathered near a shopping mall in the northeastern part of Denver on Sunday night, causing disturbances at businesses and getting into physical fights. Ty McKay One witness said this should serve as a wake-up call for parents and the community. "(My) first initial thought was go help," said Ty McKay, a community youth advocate who witnessed the scene outside The Shops at Northfield. This video from McKay shows the moments dozens of kids fought each other. Some ran, some hid and others took swings at one another. "It was a lot going on. It was a lot of fights happening," McKay said. Though police worked to push teens out of the area, McKay says that wasn't enough -- which is why he stepped in. "It was myself and two other individuals that hopped out of the car because there was no intervention by the police at all. They were just watching the kids fighting," he said. In a statement to CBS Colorado, Denver police said no damage was reported, although two small items were stolen from a business. No arrests were made. "My initial fear was the weapons. I didn't want any kids to be hurt or killed," McKay said. McKay runs Dream Culture, a nonprofit that works with Denver youth. He says the incident was eye-opening. "I have an organization, I work with kids, all those kinds of things. So it's one of those things that, you know, you kind of see it in social life. I just didn't want to see the tragedy." He says this should be concerning for the community. "There's been a lot of conversation -- not only with me, but with a lot of different organizations, leaders, family members -- about how we can address these things." Police say they are aware of other planned takeover events and are working on strategies to minimize future disruptions.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Yahoo
Denver police respond to hundreds of teens who gathered at Northfield Mall Saturday
DENVER (KDVR) — A weekend gathering of hundreds of teens at Northfield Mall escalated into chaos, prompting a police response and raising questions about safety and planning on social media. According to the Denver Police Department, a group of approximately 300 juveniles assembled at the mall around 6 p.m. Saturday in what investigators describe as a 'planned event' organized online. The group did not appear to be there to shop, and several witnesses said the teens quickly caused disturbances throughout the shopping center. Teen detained by ICE after traffic stop describes 'nightmare' conditions in Aurora facility 'Pandemonium, running through the mall — it was kind of like a riot,' said Devin Donlon, a store manager at Zumiez. Witnesses said fights broke out both inside stores and in surrounding areas. Ty McKay, who was at the mall at the time, described the scene as 'unruly.' 'You saw kids getting jumped — 10 people on one,' McKay said. 'We just started breaking up fights, throwing kids off of kids.' Donlon said his store was forced to close early for safety reasons, losing out on an hour of business. 'There were kids banging on my glass, trying to come in, destroy stuff, steal stuff,' he said. 'They absolutely destroyed [another nearby store], throwing stuff off tables onto the floor, stealing things, running out with it.' Police said no arrests were made, and no property damage was formally reported, though there was one report of two small items stolen from a business. Investigators are still working to determine whether that theft was connected to the group. Englewood hit-and-run crash turns into brief police pursuit, SWAT scene in Denver As officers worked to disperse the crowd, some juveniles reportedly moved into nearby neighborhoods near Central Park Boulevard and East 46th Avenue, where additional disturbances were reported. While some community members criticized the lack of consequences, others said they understood the challenges law enforcement faced. 'It was too many kids,' McKay said. 'You didn't have the resources to make arrests like that. But we've got to figure out how to create a safe space for these kids — how to make it inviting and safe.' Police say they are continuing to investigate the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
