Parents and grandparents are increasingly calling 911 after violent outbursts by teenagers left them fearing for their own safety. Recent incidents have included assaults on family members, thousands of dollars in property damage, threats of self-harm, and repeated domestic violence inside the home.
Several of those calls have come from Lawrence County in recent days, where deputies have responded to multiple households dealing with violent juveniles whose behavior has escalated beyond what families felt they could safely manage on their own.
Teen Allegedly Causes Thousands in Damage, Spits on Family Members
Deputies responded to one home after receiving a report that a juvenile was tearing up the house, throwing objects, punching holes in walls, and spitting on family members.
According to relatives, the teen had been destroying the home for nearly a week, causing an estimated $20,000 in damage.
Family members said they had installed a deadbolt on their bedroom door because they feared the juvenile would attack them during one of the outbursts.
The teen’s brother told deputies he was intentionally spit on while trying to calm the situation.
The juvenile was arrested and transported to a juvenile detention center. While being transported, the teen reportedly told deputies that a mental hospital would be more helpful than juvenile detention.
Parents Say 13-Year-Old’s Behavior Is Escalating
In another case, deputies were called after parents reported their 13-year-old son had ripped a door off its hinges and become increasingly violent inside the home.
The family said they feared he could hurt them or himself. They also told deputies the repeated outbursts were beginning to influence the younger children living in the house.
Deputies noted they had responded to the juvenile only days earlier after he ran away to avoid being taken into custody. Multiple deputies, a K-9 team, and firefighters searched for hours before he returned home on his own.
A domestic violence complaint had already been filed from that earlier incident.
12-Year-Old Calls 911 After Striking Grandmother
In a third case, a 12-year-old girl called 911 and reported that she had struck her grandmother and wanted to turn herself in.
Deputies learned the incident began with an argument that escalated into slamming doors and punching walls before the juvenile allegedly struck her grandmother, who uses a wheelchair.
Investigators noted they had responded to the same home several times in the past for unruly behavior and previous domestic incidents involving the juvenile.
The girl was transported to her group home following the investigation.
A Growing Form of Domestic Violence
When people hear the words “domestic violence,” they often picture abuse between spouses or dating partners. Mental health professionals say another form of family violence is receiving more attention: children and teenagers becoming physically aggressive toward parents, grandparents, and siblings.
Warning signs often include:
- Destroying property during arguments
- Punching walls or breaking household items
- Threatening family members
- Spitting, pushing, hitting, or kicking others
- Threatening suicide or self-harm
- Running away after violent incidents
- Family members becoming afraid inside their own home
Experts encourage parents not to dismiss repeated violent behavior as simply a phase.
If a child repeatedly becomes violent, families should seek a mental health evaluation, develop a safety plan for everyone in the home, document escalating incidents, and call law enforcement whenever someone is in immediate danger.
Several of the recent incidents also involved statements suggesting underlying mental health struggles, highlighting the importance of getting professional help before violence escalates further.
