Advertisement

LAPD: 76 arrested after Lakers celebration turns 'confrontational, violent and destructive'

cassandra negley
Women's basketball reporter
·2-min read

The Los Angeles Police Department arrested 76 people after a celebration of the Los Angeles Lakers championship turned into “confrontational, violent and destructive behavior,” the department said.

Lakers fans took to the streets around Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles after the Lakers dominated Game 6 to win their 17th NBA title on Sunday night. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti repeatedly asked fans not to do so due to COVID-19 safety regulations, but they did anyway and created problems.

LAPD: Buildings damaged, officers injured in Lakers celebration

The LAPD gave an update Monday morning on Twitter saying there were 76 total arrests for vandalism, assault on a police officer and failure to disperse.

[Yahoo Store: Get your Los Angeles Lakers championship gear right here!]

Two members of the crowd were injured by “less lethal munitions fired by our officers” and were taken to the hospital, according to the LAPD. Eight officers were injured and received medical treatment and more than 30 buildings and establishments were damaged by the crowd, according to the LAPD.

LAPD wrote in part:

“What started out as a largely peaceful celebration of the Los Angeles Lakers NBA championship in downtown Los Angeles, turned into confrontational, violent and destructive behavior late last night. A crowd of more than 1,000 revelers descended into the area around Staples Center after the game. Unruly individuals mixed within the crowd began throwing glass bottles, rocks and other projectiles at officers. That is when an unlawful assembly was declared, and only a limited number of people complied and began to disperse. A larger portion of the group broke off and began vandalizing businesses while continuing to engage in violent behavior, some aimed at responding officers.”

Lakers fans celebrate championship near Staples Center

Fans celebrating with police officers getting out of a police car.
Los Angeles Lakers fans celebrate outside of Staples Center as Los Angeles Police Department officers try to disperse them. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)

Lakers fans took to the streets to celebrate their first title since 2010. Many honored the late Kobe Bryant, who died along with his daughter and six other passengers in a helicopter crash outside of Los Angeles in January.

Videos went around social media of fans standing on construction platforms waving flags, many without masks. There were fireworks and cars doing donuts in the middle of the celebration.

More from Yahoo Sports: