Teens assault parents at Hanes Mall, police say

LaTina Melton said she and her boyfriend dropped his daughter and her friend off at Hanes Mall for a birthday party. Later, the couple got a call from the 13-year-old daughter saying a group of teenagers was following them around the mall. https://bit.ly/39xpy38 The couple went to pick up their daughter, and Melton said she tried to diffuse the situation. The next thing she knew, she was assaulted. "All of the friends just went haywire, and I was hit from this side, the left side, and once she hit me, I just instantly reacted and hit her back, and then it went from there, and it turned into five people on me and two to three men on my boyfriend," said Melton. Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines said he's concerned. "I certainly am trying to figure out why and why it's happening so much," he said. "I think it's partially due to the fact that schools not in person, evening activities are not there, sports activities aren’t happening." Joines said in the meantime, more police presence at the mall will help, but he hopes city leaders will find ways to reach out to teenagers and learn what they need. Read more: https://bit.ly/39xpy38 SUBSCRIBE | https://bit.ly/2vsX74I Follow us: Facebook | https://bit.ly/3326pAY Twitter | https://bit.ly/2vIPZkT Instagram | https://bit.ly/39Ghs5a Download the WFMY News 2 app: ►Text the word APP to 336-379-5775 ►For iPhone | https://apple.co/3aaH6iM ►For Android | https://bit.ly/3aea9Sv