TOLEDO, Ohio — One week after a shooting at Smith Park that resulted in Toledo's sixth juvenile homicide of 2023, city council is considering multiple avenues to curb youth violence, including reinforcing an existing curfew.
"It's been a heartbreaking week," council member Theresa Gadus said. "There are so many people that are hurting."
The city of Toledo has had a juvenile curfew in place since 1992, but it has not been consistently enforced. According to Toledo Municipal Code, children under 11 years old cannot be out past 10 p.m., children ages 11-16 cannot be out past 11 p.m. and children ages 16-18 cannot be out past midnight. Toledo also has an ordinance that prohibits people from gathering in parks after dark.
The shooting at Smith Park, which resulted in the death of 16-year-old Justyce Williams and saw a 15-year-old and 4-year-old shot as well, happened at about 9:30 p.m. after the sun had set.
"I am open to using and any every tool that can increase safety in Toledo," Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said. "Enforcing our existing juvenile curfew is an option worth considering, just as other large cities around the country have done in recent weeks."
Increased funding for mental health services is another option council is considering.
"Tempers are high, tensions are high, so anything we can do to provide assistance to folks or opportunity and access to mental health treatments is going to be good for us," council member Nick Komives said.
As the city increasingly focuses on curbing youth violence, stopping the violence well before it can happen is where local leaders say mental health services can step in.
"Their behaviors will have consequences and those consequences could be lifelong, not just for themselves but for others," Mental Health and Recovery Services Board Executive Director Scott Sylak said. "Of course, we're all better off if we can intercede in those areas."
Kapszukiewicz also said he plans to meet with Toledo police chief Michael Troendle to discuss the logistics of enforcing a curfew or any other laws.