Gang friction in downtown Silver Spring led County Executive Ike Leggett to propose a curfew for youths under 18, county officials say. Two gangs were meeting in Silver Spring, gearing up for a fight the weekend of July 4. As soon as police forced the crowd to disperse, members simply regrouped elsewhere, said county Police Chief Thomas Manger. The incident led to the stabbing of a young woman involved with one of the gangs.

A curfew would have let police arrest those under 18 at midnight, although most of the gang members were older and the group began gathering earlier at night, he said.