The streets of Los Angeles erupted in chaos Wednesday night after the Dodgers clinched the World Series, defeating the Yankees in a nail-biting 7-6 victory at Yankee Stadium.
While fans poured into the streets to celebrate the long-awaited triumph, a wave of violence and disorder unfolded across the city, leading to at least a dozen arrests. Police reported that celebrations quickly devolved into mayhem as unruly fans set a city bus ablaze, looted businesses, and clashed with law enforcement in downtown Los Angeles.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), six individuals were arrested for commercial burglary, four for receiving stolen property, and two more for failing to disperse when ordered.
The LAPD shared footage of looters ransacking a Nike store four miles from Dodger Stadium, with people seen running in and out of the boarded-up building, arms loaded with merchandise. The dramatic scenes, captured by ABC 7, showed looters leaving with boxes of goods in full view of police, who were stretched thin across the city’s hotspots of unrest.
The night’s violence also took a destructive turn when a massive crowd set an MTA bus aflame near Dodger Stadium around 12:35 a.m. Video footage captured the crowd—many dressed in Dodgers jerseys—climbing onto the bus, waving flags, and setting off fireworks inside before the vehicle erupted in a plume of black smoke.
Moments later, the bus exploded, flames shooting into the night sky, as riot police formed a perimeter to prevent the crowd from advancing further. Firefighters managed to contain the blaze, leaving only the charred frame of the bus behind.
Meanwhile, LAPD officers, attempting to regain control, were met with hostility as celebrants hurled rocks, bottles, and fireworks in their direction. The department issued urgent warnings for bystanders to vacate areas near the looting and vandalism, while Mayor Karen Bass condemned the violence, reminding citizens that “violence will not be tolerated” in the celebration of the Dodgers’ victory.
LAPD declared a tactical alert, deploying additional resources and coordinating with regional law enforcement partners to prevent further escalations.
Despite the destructive night, Los Angeles is pressing forward with plans for an official Dodgers victory parade on Friday morning. The event will start at Dodger Stadium and make its way through downtown, with city officials emphasizing increased security measures to keep the celebration safe.
Mayor Bass and the LAPD have urged fans to celebrate responsibly, pledging to maintain a heightened police presence to ensure community safety in the wake of Wednesday’s chaotic celebrations.
