AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — An Aurora man is pleading with other parents to check their kids' phones and social media after his daughter ended up in the hospital practicing for a "Planned Takeover."
As FOX31 first reported Monday, one of those events happened Sunday, where police say hundreds of teens gathered at a mall in Northfield and multiple fights broke out.
“It was definitely hard watching the fight videos, especially the ones involving my daughter," said Arion Mitchell. He took some time away from his daughter's bedside to share her story with FOX31.
Teenagers outside the Northfield Mall on Saturday, June 21. (Courtesy Ty McKay)“No parent thinks when their 14-year-old asks, can they go to the movies, can they go out to eat or can they go to Elitch Gardens with their friend, it’s going to turn out to something like this," said Mitchell.
He is talking about the severe head injuries his daughter is recovering from at Children's Hospital after practicing at a friend's house for what has been trending on social media as planned takeovers.
FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox“It could be the honor roll student, you know. That's what she is. I didn’t think she was out here doing nothing like this," said Mitchell. “As I looked through her phone, she had fights dating back to December of last year. Fliers dating back to December of last year. It’s been going on for a while. I don’t know if this is just a summer thing or a quarterly thing they’re doing, but it’s definitely more rampant during the summer time.”
Fliers like these are spreading on social media, promoting the large gatherings.
“If this continues, there’s going to be some young lives lost one way or another and it’s we’re not going to just have people in the hospital. We’re going to have people in the grave," said Mitchell. “As we see they are pretty good at promotion they can just use that and point it towards something else or we as a community can set up we have boxing rings and stuff where they can get the extra aggression out as it being Mental self awareness month I think we need to checkout more on the teens and see how they’re thinking is and what’s going on with them before it gets too out of hand.”
He says the events can happen so fast and parents won't be in the loop.
“We've got to check their phones. I've never been the type to be in my daughter’s phone unless I was suspicious about something, but it needs to happen more periodically and randomly," he said.
Doctor Samuel Jay is a professor of communications studies at MSU.
“As a parent of three daughters, I'm beginning to see the impacts of social media for them," Jay said.
He says having conversations with your kids is a good place to start to prevent them from participating in dangerous activities.
FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up for weather alerts from the Pinpoint Weather team“Why is it you want to be on this particular platform?" asked Jay. "What is it giving you in terms of value and worth? Why is that? Are there other places to go for that?"
“They’re going down there just to see, spectate and ends up in the fight, but the other way all the way around, it’s not right, it’s dangerous," said Mitchell.
Mitchell says doctors say his daughter may be released as early as Monday of next week.
“I don’t think right now she understands the severity of it. Right now, she barely knows who she is. She’s having memory problems, psychotic episodes," said Mitchell. "I don’t think she’s here right now. I don’t think she’s coherent right now to understand it, but I can guarantee this is going to change a lot for her. It will.”
Aurora police tell FOX31 they are aware and monitoring the situation. They plan to have an increased and visible presence on that day.
Mitchell said, “The one at Northfield that recently happened wasn’t the first. So, I’m thinking there’s been many of them. There’s definitely been a lot of practicing going on in nearby houses, so like it's not like she came home with bruises or anything noticeable. Maybe some scratches here and there. She blamed it on her little brother. I'm still in shock. I don’t know what’s going on here, but these young teens have to change this. It’s not healthy.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Parent makes plea after 14-year-old hospitalized practicing for social media 'takeovers' )
Also on site :
- Mossad thanks CIA for help with Operation Rising Lion
- What to Know About the Investigation Into Influencer Gloria Zamora’s Death
- Costa Mesa sushi restaurant Hana re loses its Michelin star