Have any parents been arrested after viral Chipotle teen fight in DC?
Mike StunsonAnother teen takeover event has put a strain on Washington DC's Metropolitan Police Department, which is now investigating a large fight that occurred Saturday night, May 16, at a Chipotle in Navy Yard.
Saturday's fight was shared on social media by multiple users and showed several people throwing punches and hurling chairs and tables inside the business.
Here's what we know about the fight and if anyone has been arrested, including parents.
What happened at the Chipotle fight in Navy Yard?
DC police said the fight happened around 8:40 p.m. Saturday, when officers "already deployed in the area."
Video from multiple angles shared on X shows at least 10 people involved in the altercation, which spread throughout the restaurant. All of the individuals were dressed in black and many were concealing their faces with masks.
Warning: The videos below contain explicit language.
Bystanders, including young children, were forced to corner themselves inside the restaurant to avoid being struck by the flying chairs.
Officers arrived within one minute but learned the individuals involved in the fight had already fled.
"Witnesses reported one group of juveniles were inside of the establishment when another group entered and a fight broke out immediately," police said. "Both groups fled prior to the officer's arrival. No injuries were reported."
No arrests have been announced.
In a press conference Monday, Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, called the incident more than just violence, but also "destruction of property."
"It was a takeover of a restaurant by individuals who felt they could get away with it," Pirro said Monday. "Well they are not going to get away with it."
Could parents be charged from the Chipotle fight at Navy Yard?
Pirro said Friday — a day before the Chipotle incident — she would be implementing "a more aggressive enforcement approach" against teen takeovers by issuing citations to parents "who facilitate, enable, or knowingly permit a minor to engage in delinquent acts."
Parents could face charges regardless of if their child is prosecuted. Punishment could include fines, court-ordered classes or jail time of up to six months for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Pirro doubled down Monday, saying the behavior by the teens "is not only unacceptable, it is violent, it is dangerous, and it is illegal."
"We are looking beyond those individuals who are committing the crimes," Pirro said Monday. "We are looking at the parents to make sure they understand they are responsible for the upheaval that is going on in this District that is impacting everyone who lives here."
No parents have been arrested from the Chipotle incident, but police and Pirro both said they are investigating.
"If you think being a teen gives you a pass to terrorize businesses and neighborhoods, you're about to find out otherwise," Pirro said. "We will arrest you, and where we can, we will prosecute you aggressively and prosecute your parents."