Skate Jam event in Los Angeles descends into fiery vandalism and chaos
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Skate Jam, a Hollywood skateboarding event in Los Angeles, turned into a scene of fiery vandalism and chaos on Saturday, September 9.
It was organized by F*****g Awesome World Entertainment and Adidas.
What was the aim of Skate Jam?
The partnership aimed to showcase professional skateboarders and their stunts.
The event had begun peacefully at 4.30 pm with skaters performing stunts, including a launch ramp over an old police car.
'Skate Jam' event descends into chaotic violence as crowds set fire to parked cars, throw rocks and bottles and vandalize Fire trucks in Democrat-led Los Angeles pic.twitter.com/6VFolAr51O
— NEWS BLOG (@mrichardp411) September 11, 2023
Professional skateboarders Nora Vasconcellos, Mark Suciu and Daewon Song performed tricks and competed for prizes.
However, the event erupted into disorder at around 7.22 pm when the crowd started "acting up," according to the Los Angeles Police Department, KTLA reported.
What turned the crowd at Skate Jam aggressive?
The crowd became rowdy as soon as the band Dead City Punx began to perform.
Crowds turned aggressive with some people torching the trash cans and spray-painting graffiti on a Los Angeles Fire Department vehicle.
In addition to tossing bottles and lighting fireworks, the crowd also set a car on fire.
Videos showed crowds climbing onto the police cruiser as the fire spread. Motorcycle riders did wheelies as smiling attendees even took selfies.
The car then eventually got entirely engulfed in flames.
Chaos Erupted at Thrasher Skate Jam @CitizenApp
Hollywood Blvd & N Cherokee Ave Sep 9 9:40:43 PM PDT
"Revelers had jumped on top of the car in celebration and bashed in the fake windows before the vehicle was set ablaze," one attendee told the Los Angeles Times.
How did the police respond to the fiery vandalism?
Police helicopters hovered over the crowd soon after the assembly was declared unlawful.
Breaking: a lot of skateboarders have set fire to a police vehicle. Police calling unlawful assembly. pic.twitter.com/5oWdLpCu5a
— LaSombritaWithNews (@ACatWithNews) September 10, 2023
Police officers also reportedly marched through the crowd which was "yelling" with several partygoers screaming "obscenities in response."
Some of the officers were "hit with rocks and bottles thrown from the crowd."
Did the police arrest anyone from the Skate Jam event?
Reportedly, three people were arrested and charged with vandalism. The identity of those arrested is not known yet, as per KTLA.
Daily Mail noted that the number of officers and academy graduates is at a nearly 30-year low and the police department is experiencing a hiring crisis.
At the same time, the city is struggling with rising homelessness and persistent crime, notably the wave of widespread smash-and-grab thefts that hit the city this summer.