A large crowd gathered just after midnight on Sunday at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Maple Avenue in Los Angeles. The reason for the gathering remains unclear, but many attendees were dressed in party attire, including pink platform heels and cat ears. Some individuals engaged in dangerous behavior, such as a man who drank from a jug filled with a flammable liquid and then spat it onto a torch, creating flames that lit up the night sky.
As the scene unfolded, a helicopter circled overhead, capturing the chaotic atmosphere. One man, wearing a leather jacket, climbed a light pole and filmed himself while perched on a street sign. The crowd’s attention soon shifted to a nearby A Line train that had stopped along its route. Footage showed some people in the crowd spray-painting the train and banging on its windows.
The Los Angeles Police Department received a call at 12:12 a.m. about five male suspects vandalizing the interior of a train car. Officer Kevin Terzes, a spokesperson for the LAPD, confirmed that officers formed a skirmish line across the street from the crowd, equipped with riot guns that fire foam rounds.
At 12:19 a.m., police received another report of disruptive behavior on a train at a nearby intersection. Despite the chaos, no arrests were made related to either incident. It is also unclear if anyone was arrested for vandalizing local businesses, including a Panda Express and a Waba Grill.
Videos from the scene showed people posing for selfies next to a vandalized police cruiser. They were seen cursing at officers, throwing fireworks, and kicking the police vehicle as officers retreated.
Train service was delayed for about 20 minutes as approximately 50 people blocked both southbound and northbound trains at the intersection. Vandals spray-painted both the exteriors and interiors of the trains, but fortunately, no passengers or Metro employees were reported injured. Metro spokesperson Jose Ubaldo urged anyone with information about the incident to contact the LAPD.
This event highlights the ongoing issues of vandalism and public safety in urban areas, raising questions about crowd control and the responsibilities of individuals during such gatherings.