A large crowd gathered at midnight on Sunday at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Maple Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. The reason for the gathering remains unclear, but many attendees were dressed in vibrant party attire, including pink platform heels and cat ears. Eyewitness videos captured a man drinking from a jug filled with a flammable liquid before igniting a torch, sending flames into the night sky.
As a helicopter circled above, one man climbed a light pole, filming himself while perched on a street sign. Shortly after, the crowd’s focus shifted to an A Line train that had stopped nearby. Videos showed some individuals vandalizing the train, spray-painting its exterior and banging on the windows.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) received a call at 12:12 a.m. reporting that several male suspects had entered a train car and were vandalizing it. Officers quickly assembled in a skirmish line across the street, equipped with foam round riot guns. Just minutes later, at 12:19 a.m., another call came in about disruptive behavior on a train at a nearby intersection.
Despite the chaos, no arrests were made in connection with the vandalism on the train or the surrounding area. It was also unclear if any individuals were arrested for spray-painting the facades of local businesses, including a Panda Express and a medical clinic. Some members of the crowd were seen taking selfies next to a vandalized police cruiser, while others hurled fireworks and kicked at the police car as officers retreated.
Train service was delayed for about 20 minutes as approximately 50 people blocked the tracks at Washington Boulevard and Maple Avenue. Fortunately, no passengers or Metro employees were injured during the incident. Metro spokesperson Jose Ubaldo urged anyone with information about the vandalism to contact the LAPD.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about public safety and vandalism in urban areas, drawing attention to the need for increased monitoring and community engagement.