LOS ANGELES, CA – A massive skateboarding event sponsored by a skateboarding magazine erupted into late-night chaos Saturday in downtown Los Angeles, with crowds vandalizing a driverless robotaxi and clashing with police officers.
The gathering near 1st Street and Hill Street drew hundreds of skateboarders and spectators throughout Saturday evening, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Video footage showed attendees smashing the windows of a Waymo autonomous vehicle, hitting it with skateboards and climbing onto the car while crowds cheered.
LAPD declared a modified tactical alert as the situation escalated. Officers formed lines across intersections attempting to disperse the crowd, but faced resistance from participants who threw bottles and skateboard parts at law enforcement.
In one incident, police said a person “riding a skateboard at speed attempted to run into a line of officers,” according to Central Division’s social media post. Additional footage captured skateboarders skating directly toward police lines as officers worked to clear the area.
Officers employed less-lethal tactics to clear streets and documented extensive damage to vehicles and nearby property. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to evaluate at least one injured person, though officials did not immediately release the individual’s condition.
Authorities shut down traffic in the area and urged the public to avoid downtown Civic Center streets as the situation unfolded. Police have not disclosed whether any arrests were made during the incident.
The investigation remains active, with authorities working to identify the event organizer. Police did not provide details on how the gathering was promoted or whether organizers obtained proper permits for the large-scale event.
The incident highlights growing concerns about large unsanctioned gatherings in urban areas, particularly when social media can rapidly mobilize crowds without advance notice to law enforcement or city officials.
Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company, has not issued a public statement about the damage to its robotaxi. The company operates a fleet of driverless vehicles in Los Angeles and other major cities, though the vehicles have occasionally become targets during public disturbances.
