PEORIA, Ill. — A Peoria Council woman is worried about increasing violence over the past few months, involving large crowds overnight in the city.
Police found a large group on North Main Street early Sunday morning, with multiple shots fired nearby on Hamilton Boulevard. Two people were shot.
District 1’s Denise Jackson at Tuesday night’s council meeting suggested closing the bars downtown earlier, at least temporarily.
“I think we as a city have to be a little bit more intentional in our efforts, and I’m not advocating shutting down bars, but I think we need to consider all options…because we’re in a situation where we need all hands on deck,” Jackson said.
10 bars in downtown Peoria are currently open until 4 a.m.
District 2’s Chuck Grayeb said he’s concerned about the public displays of criminal activity and juvenile delinquency that’s going on.
“The question I have to ask is, when we have all these kids out until two, three or four in the morning shooting guns, etcetera, where are the parents? Where are they? What is their responsibility under our state statutes?,” Grayeb said.
Councilwoman Jackson reminded Grayeb that the offenders aren’t all juveniles, some are young adults in their 20s.
Grayeb asked the Peoria city attorney to report back on the potential for an ordinance in two weeks.
