MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman didn’t need to wait long on Monday to learn that six teenagers had been shot and injured hours after tens of thousands of people in Milwaukee initially came together to peacefully celebrate the Juneteenth holiday.

“I was there,” said Norman. “In fact, I was at the station when I heard the shots. Frustration, seeing that this is a continuation of some of the challenges we’re seeing within the youth community, knowing that this was totally avoidable, totally unacceptable and knowing that it would overshadow what took place that day... I always like to say that I don’t think there’s a situation where we need to pull back but lean into it, understand what the need and lift is and to find ways that we can all be a part of that lift and solution.”

Norman also weighed in on the necessity for some parents and family members throughout Milwaukee to become more engaged with teenagers to head off violent crime before it can even take place.

“First of all, know what your child is doing, who they hang around with,” Norman said. “I am engaged with my children. Understand that you need to know where they’re going, who they’re with and have some input in saying, ‘no, you’re not going there,’ or ‘no, you’re not going to be with that particular person,’ because you know [and] you see that there are going to be bad influences there.”

Watch the full interview above.