A big group of youngsters on bikes have been caught on cellphone cameras looting a Ralphs, releasing pepper spray within the Los Angeles retailer earlier than turning their consideration on a married couple, hurling insults and rocks at their automobile, terrifying the 2 males.
The incident unfolded on April 19 on the Ralphs grocery retailer on Vermont Avenue and Adams Road close to the College of Southern California, Los Angeles campus.
One of many victims, Ryan Benson, informed KTLA’s Sandra Mitchell that he and his husband have been terrified and felt trapped of their automobile because the scenario escalated.
“Saying issues like, ‘You guys homosexual?’ Homophobic slurs, hitting the automotive, throwing bottles,” Benson mentioned.
The group of teenagers had reportedly simply rushed the grocery retailer, ignoring instructions from retailer safety, taking gadgets and releasing pepper spray inside the shop.
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A big group of teenagers on bike swarmed a Ralphs in L.A., stealing gadgets and setting off pepper spray earlier than bodily and verbally harassing a married couple on April 19, 2025. (Ryan Benson)
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A big group of teenagers on bike swarmed a Ralphs in L.A., stealing gadgets and setting off pepper spray earlier than bodily and verbally harassing a married couple on April 19, 2025. (Ryan Benson)
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A big group of teenagers on bike swarmed a Ralphs in L.A., stealing gadgets and setting off pepper spray earlier than bodily and verbally harassing a married couple on April 19, 2025. (Ryan Benson)
“There was a lot pepper spray within the air that everybody within the retailer was coughing, sneezing, hiding their face below their shirt,” Benson added.
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This isn’t the primary time a big and rowdy scrum of youngsters has unleashed mayhem on metropolis streets.
In January, the motive force of a Mercedes within the Mid-Wilshire space was swarmed by a gaggle of youngsters on bicycles, who vandalized the automobile.
Investigators with the Los Angeles Police Division mentioned it’s potential that the group from Ralphs may very well be linked to different comparable crimes, similar to kicking and beating an individual close to Beverly Hills in February and the looting of 7-Eleven comfort shops within the metropolis.
As for Benson and his husband, he mentioned the injury completed to his automotive by the group will value 1000’s of {dollars} to restore.
“Our window is damaged, our windshield is cracked, each doorways are dented, and there’s a dent with paint injury,” he defined. “I perceive that they’re kids, however these are actually scary issues and we will’t simply resolve that it’s not taking place.”
Whereas no arrests have been, Benson has put out the video on social media and mentioned a few of the teenagers he believes have been concerned within the incident have since threatened him.
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