Buses were set on fire, stores were looted, fireworks were thrown at police, and lawlessness and “absolute chaos” erupted in downtown Los Angeles after the Dodgers’ World Series victory over the New York Yankees on Wednesday night. .
At 10:43 p.m. (1:43 a.m. ET Thursday), Los Angeles Police Department announced on X that multiple stores had been reported looted at Broadway and 8th Avenue. Various videos posted on social media, including one shared by Police X’s official account, showed people exiting a Nike store with merchandise.
Police said more than a dozen people were arrested in connection with the disturbance. Six people were taken into custody on suspicion of commercial robbery, four on suspicion of receiving stolen property and two on suspicion of failure to disperse.
Police issued a dispersal order after fireworks and projectiles were thrown at officers. Then, around 12:35 a.m., a “hostile crowd” surrounded the bus on Echo Park Avenue near Dodger Stadium and set it on fire, police said.
Transportation officials said the driver and five passengers were able to get off the bus before the fire broke out.
A witness, Taylor Rosa, 27, of Los Angeles, told NBC News that the celebration turned ugly.
“It was total chaos. People were excited and having a nostalgic time, but then people got out of control and started looting and jumping on top of buses,” he said.
Rosa said the female driver was still inside the bus when the crowd surrounded it, adding: “After she got off, everyone inside the bus started setting off fireworks, jumping on top of the bus, dancing.” “I started doing it,” he said.
He said that when police gave the order to disperse, someone detonated an explosive inside the bus, causing it to “completely explode.” Rosa said she did not see any injuries, but said streets were “completely destroyed” and fireworks were set off at several local businesses.
“Metro is disappointed and angered by the senseless vandalism of one of our buses tonight following the Dodgers’ World Series win,” the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority said in a statement.
“We are grateful that the bus driver and five passengers were able to safely evacuate the bus before it was set on fire.”
The Dodgers defeated the Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 on Wednesday, winning the World Series 4-1.
Mateo Moschella contributed.
