Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has called for reform of the state's juvenile justice system after a teenager slammed a girl's head into the pavement near a high school last Friday during a violent fight that was caught on camera. on video.
Bailey was interviewed on local radio show Wake Up Mid-Missouri Monday morning to talk about the brutal assault that sent a teenage girl to the hospital in critical condition.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing in Washington, DC, U.S., Wednesday, January 10, 2024. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Well, this is horrible, and we're seeing this happening more and more across the state, where young people are committing violent crimes,” the Republican Attorney General said, noting that two young people were also charged in a parade shooting of the Kansas City Chiefs last month. , resulting in the death of a woman and nearly two dozen other people were injured.
Over the weekend, Bailey said the suspect in Friday's violent fight should be tried as an adult and charged with murder if the crime escalates to manslaughter.
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“We have to reform our juvenile system to ensure these types of issues are addressed,” Bailey said.
He pointed to the plummeting number of youth committed to the state's Division of Juvenile Services for treatment as evidence that the justice system is not doing its job of prosecuting offenders.
Friday's fight took place near the intersection of Norgate and Claudine streets, near Hazelwood East High School. (Google Maps)
“I'm going to follow this case closely,” Bailey said. “I think there needs to be some accountability in our juvenile system. People are starting to realize that and it's causing problems throughout the state of Missouri.”
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Fox News Digital has reached out to St. Louis County Police and Hazelwood East High School for updates on the case.
