HARRISBURG, PA — In a recent announcement, Pennsylvania’s Attorney General Michelle Henry shed light on a disturbing trend of young people involved in firearm-related crimes in the Philadelphia area. The revelation comes as part of the Office of Attorney General’s ongoing focus on youth and gun violence.
The office’s Gun Violence Task Force, which collaborates with local, state, and federal agencies, aims to curb illegal gun transfers, unlawful possession of firearms, and violent crimes resulting from these activities. This month alone, the Task Force has conducted multiple investigations leading to arrests of juveniles and young offenders—some of whom were already on probation for gun crimes.
“We have seen a wave of criminal conduct involving youthful offenders and firearms to start the new year,” said Attorney General Henry. “The crimes involve alarming behavior perpetrated by young people, including teenagers who have prior gun offenses.”
Details about recent cases underscore the gravity of the situation. In one instance, a 16-year-old, already on probation and monitored via GPS for previous firearms offenses, was arrested after being observed with an AK-47 on Instagram. The juvenile, who is also implicated in an armed carjacking incident in December, is facing charges of felony illegal firearm possession.
In another case, four teenagers were charged with illegal possession of firearms following the execution of a search warrant, which unearthed three firearms, two of which had been reported stolen. These arrests were prompted by a prison video call showcasing ghost guns allegedly owned by a teenager on probation for prior firearms offenses.
To combat this public health crisis, the Attorney General’s office is actively engaged in community outreach initiatives tailored for young people. These include student roundtable events and proactive prevention programs aimed at deterring students from engaging in criminal behavior.
“These are not just isolated incidents,” Attorney General Henry added. “Many students have expressed that they know peers who have easy access to firearms, and some of those young people feel they have no other option but to illegally carry firearms for protection.”
This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address gun violence among youth. As Attorney General Henry’s office stated it will continue its collaborative enforcement efforts, and it remains committed to working with school and community leaders to identify and intervene with students at an elevated risk of offending. The hope is that these combined efforts will help curb the tide of youth gun violence plaguing Philadelphia and beyond.
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