After the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the World Series title against the New York Yankees in a thrilling game five, celebrations quickly spiraled into chaos on the streets of LA. What began as fans flooding the streets to celebrate the Dodgers’ 7-6 victory over the Yankees devolved into widespread looting, vandalism, and clashes with law enforcement, leaving parts of downtown LA in turmoil.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the night saw multiple incidents of looting and arson as Dodgers fans and opportunistic vandals seized on the excitement to cause mayhem. The LAPD reported several stores, including a Nike store on Broadway and 8th Street, were ransacked, with videos on social media showing individuals walking out of the store with stolen merchandise. The LAPD’s social media updates documented the chaos, showing fireworks being launched at police officers and property damage across downtown.
🚨#BREAKING: Fires have been set on an LA Metro bus, leading to chaos erupting in Los Angeles, California, after the LA Dodgers won the 2024 World Series pic.twitter.com/nsxNBzEVmp
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) October 31, 2024
By midnight, the unruly crowd had taken their actions further. Police issued a dispersal order after people began hurling fireworks and projectiles at officers attempting to restore order. Around 12:35 a.m., an MTA bus on Echo Park Avenue near Dodger Stadium was surrounded by a “hostile crowd” that set it ablaze. Fortunately, the bus driver and five passengers managed to escape before the fire started, according to the city’s transport authority. By early morning, authorities had detained an unknown number of individuals in connection with the night’s disturbances, though they are yet to release details on arrests or charges.
BREAKING: Major looting underway amidst World Series celebrations in Downtown LA by organized gangs of thieves who are currently emptying out the Jordan flagship Nike store on Broadway pic.twitter.com/a9hjyaxO8s
— Chris Cristi (@abc7chriscristi) October 31, 2024
Last night in Los Angeles: $11,000 stolen. 50+ looters. Only 1 arrest.
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) June 10, 2024
NBC News reported that law enforcement faced an “absolute chaos” scenario as fireworks exploded, stores were looted, and streets became impassable due to throngs of people. This pattern of post-game vandalism and violence in LA has led many to call for more stringent crowd control and increased police presence during high-stakes sporting events, particularly as this kind of “celebration” has plagued the city in previous years.
The Dodgers’ victory capped a dramatic game, with the Yankees blowing a 5-0 lead by the fifth inning, only to be overtaken in the final moments by the Dodgers’ relentless offense. But the celebratory tone was overshadowed by the violence and destruction that followed.
As the city assesses the damage, LAPD officials say they are reviewing footage and working to identify those responsible for the looting, arson, and assaults on police. For Dodgers fans who wanted a night of jubilant celebration, the violence left a bittersweet mark on an otherwise historic win.
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