Los Angeles descended into chaos Wednesday night as belligerent baseball fans set a bus on fire while others clashed with cops and looters ran amok following the Dodgers’ World Series victory.
The Los Angeles Police Department shared footage of a mob of looters running in and out of a boarded-up Nike store carrying merchandise and throwing it into cars parked outside the store about four miles from Dodger Stadium just after 11 p.m.
The LAPD said it was “aware of the looting” and has made arrests but did not disclose how many suspects were taken into custody.
The department also shared that “several businesses” were looted and multiple properties were “vandalized” during the “violent celebrations” across the city.
Aerial footage from ABC 7 Los Angeles shows dozens of looters calmly walking into and leaving a Nike store with boxes of goods without police interference.
As looters ransacked businesses, other areas of downtown Los Angeles were plunged into madness.
The LAPD said a “hostile crowd” — estimated at between 200 and 300 people — lit an MTA bus on fire about a mile from Dodger Stadium around 12:35 a.m. local time.
Footage posted to Citizen captured the moment a massive crowd — the majority of whom were wearing Dodgers jerseys and apparel — surrounded and sat atop the graffiti-laced bus.
Members of the crowd were caught on video entering the bus, while others were seen holding up Dodgers flags and taking pictures.
Emergency responders arrived at about 12:45 a.m. local time, monitored the bus fire, and protected nearby structures from potential spread.
A video posted by @FilmThePoliceLA shows fireworks being set off inside the bus as the crowd shouts in excitement.
Another showed the bus fully engulfed in flames and spewing out thick, black smoke while police in riot gear set up a perimeter to keep back the crowd.
“Let’s go, Dodgers!” the crowd shouted over the sounds of helicopters and police sirens.
The bus then appeared to explode and shot flames into the air.
Firefighters were seen extinguishing the charred remains of the bus, the frame of which was the only part of the transport vehicle that appeared to remain intact.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said it remains “in a normal operating mode, handling routine emergencies citywide” and has directed the public to the LAPD for information regarding all the “unlawful gatherings.”
The LAPD also reported that officers trying to disperse the rowdy crowd were being pelted with rocks, bottles and fireworks from a malicious crowd around where the looting was taking place.
“Extra resources are responding to that area to assist. If you are on the street, at or adjacent to that intersection, leave the area immediately & follow officers’ orders,” police said.
“If you are in the area, please use caution.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned citizens that “violence will not be tolerated” as the city celebrates the Dodgers besting the Yankees during Game 5 in New York, according to Fox 11 Los Angeles.
“LAPD is currently on tactical alert and has activated a strategic plan to protect communities and businesses, which includes proactive deployment and a coordinated strategy with regional partners to ensure that all Angelenos are able to celebrate safely,” she said.
The Dodgers beat the Yankees 7-6 at Yankee Stadium and are scheduled to celebrate their victory on Friday morning with a ticketed event at Dodger Stadium and a parade in downtown Los Angeles.
