Lewiston City Council votes to enforce earlier curfew amid rising gun violence

LEWISTON, Maine – Kids in Lewiston need to get off the streets even earlier

The Lewiston City Council voted to expand the city's curfew; on the two nights police say are most prone to violence.

High school students who live near Kennedy Park say they're worried about getting shot and so are their parents.

"There were two young guys shooting guns at each other," said Rose Griffin, who lives on Knox Street.

"I heard about five gunshots whizzing in back of me. A few minutes later, the cops showed up," said Gary Brault, who also lives on Knox Street.

"It's very scary to live down here in Lewiston," said Griffin.

This week, the city council voted to extend the curfew for minors on Friday and Saturday nights from midnight to 10 p.m. after police told the council a lot of teens are carrying guns.

"If kids are carrying guns in broad daylight, then they are most definitely carrying them at night, too," said Lewiston city councilor Eryn Soule-Leclair.

Soule-LeClair says the curfew might just save someone's life.

"Gunshots have been fired down streets at night in densely populated areas where many children, including those without weapons, stay outside late at night without parental supervision," said Soule-Leclair.

Police support the extended curfew.

"I don't think anything good is going to happen after 10 o'clock anyway for them to be out at that time," said Lewiston Police Chief David St. Pierre.

Residents like Elisha Ray don't believe curfews are the answer.

"Research has shown that curfews are ineffective at addressing both juvenile crime and juvenile safety, which are both priorities here," said Ray.

When asked if they think the curfew will work, Rose Griffin said, "No, I don't."

When asked that same question, Brault said, "I hope it helps. But I don't know if it would because they do what they want. Anything they try is worth a shot."

This curfew is not enacted yet — the council must vote again. Police say they will continue to engage teens out past curfew, and make sure they aren't carrying guns.