Flynn on teen violence: 'Parents need to know where their kids are'

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - As a family mourns the death of a 14-year-old in a weekend shooting, many are wondering what to do to combat violence amongst teens.

Former Erie County District Attorney John Flynn says a key responsibility belongs to parents.

"Parents need to know where their kids are, and parents need to know who their kids are hanging out with, especially late at night," said Flynn, now with Lippes Mathias LLP.

Flynn feels parents need to know, and have control over where their kids are going, and what their kids are doing. He warns parents not knowing where their child is, and who their child is hanging around with can become a problem.

"Every weekend, and far too often in the City of Buffalo, you have kids who are 14-, 15-, 16-years-old who are carrying weapons and carrying guns, and it manifests itself," warned Flynn in an interview with WBEN.

Flynn also scoffs at the argument that teens need guns to protect themselves.

"I disagree with that, quite frankly," Flynn said. "All that does is perpetuate an Old West order mentality that you saw on the streets of Dodge City back in the 1800s. We cannot have that society."

Flynn's advice for anyone that sees large groups of teens gathering in a certain place: Call the police to break things up.

"In this case right here, fortunately, the call was made relatively soon, and the police got there and initially broke it up. Then unfortunately, after the police broke it up, some members returned and fired gunshots," Flynn noted.

He adds the Buffalo Police Department has done a good job in doing that when they've been notified of these large gatherings,

In addition to the 14-year-old that was killed in Saturday night's shooting at an apartment complex on Jefferson Avenue, five others teens were wounded.