On Tuesday morning, the streets of downtown Los Angeles were marked by uncertainty as customers peered through graffiti-covered doors and windows, unsure of what businesses remained open following the chaos that erupted over the weekend.
The trouble began on Saturday night when police reported that hundreds of partygoers converged on the area for an illegal gathering, quickly spreading out into the surrounding neighborhood and causing significant destruction.
Vandalism was rampant, with vehicles, storefronts, and even a Metro train falling victim to damage. As the Los Angeles police responded to the escalating situation, crowd members began vandalizing police vehicles. One officer sustained injuries after being struck in the face with a bottle, according to law enforcement reports.
Despite the mayhem, no arrests were made that night. Los Angeles Police Department Cmdr. Lillian Carranza explained, “Our officers were heavily outnumbered and so the decision was clear: clear the area rather than make arrests. But I can assure you we will find those responsible.”
For local business owners and residents, the incidents underscored long-standing issues within the city. Dr. Afshin Akhavan, who operates the House of Health clinic, stated, “This type of vandalism happens every day but never to this extent. We really need to teach future generations how to care for one another. How would you like it if this happened to your home?”
Akhavan’s clinic windows were painted in red and black, a sight not uncommon in the area as employees from neighboring businesses spent their Tuesday morning scraping graffiti from their storefronts.
Teddy Lee, owner of DTLA Window Tint, expressed anger over the situation. He shared, “I hope that they face some type of fines or at least jail time. I don’t know.”
In his store security footage, individuals were seen casually approaching and vandalizing his property with spray paint. Disheartened, Lee observed, “What are you going to do?”
In light of the unrest, Mayor Karen Bass addressed the matter during a Memorial Day event, emphasizing the need for accountability. “It is unacceptable under any and all circumstances,” she stated. “And those people who perpetrated this have to be held accountable to the full extent of the law.”
Law enforcement revealed that the illegal gatherings took place on adjacent rooftops, including one featuring a punk band, without the owner’s consent. Cmdr. Carranza noted that these events had been broadly advertised on social media, contributing to the crowd’s size and behavior.
With around 700 people involved, the situation escalated as security personnel called the police to help disperse the crowd. Some attendees ignited fireworks and hurled Molotov cocktails at security and law enforcement, which led to additional requests for police assistance.
Ultimately, approximately 100 individuals left the parties to engage in vandalism, blocking two A Line trains and defacing them. When officers declared an unlawful assembly, they formed a skirmish line to push the troubled youths out of the vicinity.
Following the incident, detectives began their work to locate those responsible for the weekend’s vandalism spree. Plainclothes officers were spotted interviewing local businesses for witnesses and reviewing security camera footage. Additionally, there were efforts to comb through social media platforms to gather evidence.
Cmdr. Carranza stated that authorities were tracking the organizers of the underground events and individuals who helped promote the gatherings responsible for the chaos.
However, there are concerns that these actions might not wholly prevent similar incidents in the future. Some city residents noted a troubling pattern of behavior among Angelenos during major celebrations. Shae Cook, a relatively new resident of the city, recalled the havoc following the Dodgers’ World Series win in 2020, when the city experienced widespread vandalism and fires.
Reflecting on these events, she commented, “People just go out and take it out on the city.” The ongoing struggle to address such behavior remains a significant challenge for city officials and law enforcement.
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-05-27/dtla-vandalism-investigation
