76 Arrested After NBA Championship Celebration Descends Into Rioting, Looting, Clashes With Cops

Police arrested dozens of people after a crowd celebrating the Los Angeles Lakers’s NBA championship descended into violent riots Sunday, police said.

A total of 76 people were apprehended by law enforcement, over 30 buildings were damaged and eight officers were injured by violent demonstrators after the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, according to a Monday tweet from Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

The department estimated roughly 1,000 “revelers” descended on California streets, some of whom hurled projectiles at officers during an “unlawful assembly.”
 

Last night’s largely peaceful celebration in Downtown LA of the Lakers championship turned into confrontational, violent & destructive behavior.

Latest details:

76 arrested

30+ buildings damaged

8 officers injured

2 injured by less lethal munitions fired by our officers pic.twitter.com/BZ2nYWHz3c

— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) October 12, 2020

Motorists were reportedly harassed by the crowd and some were reportedly pulled from their vehicles and beaten, according to CBS News. At least two businesses were looted by the mob of NBA fans, CBS reported.

-READ MORE