A group of teenagers attacked a boy at Blakeney Town Center, kicking him in the face and knocking him to the pavement. The assault, caught on video, is under investigation by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).

Queen City News obtained the video and published it Wednesday, Sept. 9. A concerned parent had sent the footage to Justin Ashley, a teacher at Community House Middle School.

"It broke my heart to see that," Ashley told Queen City News.

The victim is a student at Indian Land High School. Ashley said the student is doing OK. No suspects have been identified.

The attack comes as Charlotte City Council weighs whether to move the city's teen curfew to 9 p.m. CMPD Chief Estella Patterson proposed the change as police work to curb large unsupervised teen gatherings known as "teen takeovers."

At the council's Monday, Aug. 24, meeting, members held off on a vote and instead asked CMPD to develop a pilot program. Patterson told council members she would not create a "curfew police" and that officers would not patrol streets looking to determine ages. The curfew would serve as a tool to break up large gatherings before they escalate, she said, according to Spectrum News.

Charlotte's current Youth Protection Ordinance sets a 10 p.m. curfew for children 12 and younger and 11 p.m. for teens ages 13 to 15. It does not cover 16- or 17-year-olds. A parent whose child violates the curfew can face a Class 3 misdemeanor and a fine of up to $500.

CMPD data presented to council on Aug. 10 showed 431 juvenile victims of violent crime between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Of those, 127 were ages 16 and 17, falling outside the current ordinance.

About 68% of the cases involved gun-related assaults, the Charlotte Weekly reported. Six young people died from gun violence during that period, and 13 were arrested on homicide charges, all tied to incidents after 9 p.m.

CMPD Deputy Chief Jacquelyn Bryley told council the department had tracked about 40 teen takeover advertisements since May.

Some Blakeney store owners told Queen City News the problem of large teen gatherings is getting worse at the shopping center. Jen Fritzen, an employee at Waxhaw Candle Company in Blakeney, offered a different view. She said she sees a police officer at least once a day and feels secure.

Ashley said he wants to bring an idea to council members: have community organizations, faith groups and nonprofits open their doors at night so teens have safe places to gather. He envisions activities like basketball and volleyball with CMPD and security nearby.

CMPD is expected to return to City Council in September with details on the pilot program, according to the Charlotte Observer. No vote date has been announced.