In the early hours of Sunday, a crowd began to gather at Washington Boulevard and Maple Avenue, just south of downtown Los Angeles. The reason for this unexpected congregation remains unclear, but video footage captured by news outlet OnScene.TV reveals a mix of partygoers dressed in vibrant attire, including pink platform heels and playful cat ears.
As the clock struck midnight, the atmosphere intensified. A man was seen gulping from a jug filled with a flammable liquid, which he then spat onto a torch, igniting flames that danced against the night sky. Meanwhile, a helicopter circled overhead, adding to the chaotic scene. In a further display of recklessness, a man in a leather jacket scaled a light pole, balancing precariously on a street sign while filming himself with his phone.
The crowd's attention soon shifted to an A Line train, which had halted along its route on Washington Boulevard. Disturbingly, footage shows members of the crowd vandalizing the train, spray-painting its exterior and striking its windows. According to Officer Kevin Terzes, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), they received a call at 12:12 a.m. reporting that five male suspects had entered a train car and were vandalizing its interior.
In response to the escalating situation, a significant force of LAPD officers was deployed, forming a skirmish line across the street from the assembled crowd. These officers were equipped with black and green riot guns designed to fire foam rounds. By 12:19 a.m., the police received another call regarding disruptive behavior on a train at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Trinity Street. Officer Terzes confirmed that despite the chaos, no arrests were made related to either incident.
The vandalism extended beyond the train, with reports indicating that façades of nearby establishments, including a Panda Express, Waba Grill, a dialysis center, and a medical clinic, were also targets. Some individuals in the crowd were seen posing for selfies next to a vandalized LAPD cruiser, hurling insults at officers and even throwing a firework as the police vehicle departed.
Due to the disturbances, train service experienced delays of approximately 20 minutes. At the peak of the disruption, around 50 individuals blocked both southbound and northbound trains at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Maple Avenue. Metro spokesperson Jose Ubaldo confirmed that while the exterior and interiors of the trains were vandalized, fortunately, no passengers or Metro employees sustained injuries.
The LAPD is seeking assistance from the public regarding the incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact the LAPD at (800) 222-8477. This chaotic event underscores the importance of community vigilance and the need for timely reporting of such disruptive behavior.
