Videos posted to social media shows the moment black teenagers and adults wreak havoc inside a Los Angeles McDonald's on Juneteenth.
The videos show the crowd attacking the employees, throwing objects at them, jumping on the counter, trashing merchandise, and stealing the cash registers. Some in the group took the registers outside, smashed them on the ground to take the money inside.
The employees can be seen pleading with the crowd to stop and having to retreat to the back of the restaurant for safety.
Video captured #Juneteenth revelers attacking and looting a McDonald's at Leimert Park, Los Angeles on June 19. The slavery emancipation celebration was also shut down early over false rumors of a shooting that caused the crowd to panic. The violence followed multiple deadly… pic.twitter.com/ZaZKO0s0eY
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) June 21, 2023
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said in a statement officers were nearby when they noticed the scene unfold. They managed to arrest one suspect but were only able to charge the individual with "Receiving Stolen Property" because they could not directly connect him to the initial theft.
"Due to the violent nature of the large group, the arrestee was removed from the location along with law enforcement," LAPD added.
LAPD detectives investigating the case were able to identify a second individual who stole a cash register through the videos posted online. The juvenile was arrested, charged with robbery, and then released back to a "parent/guardian."