Los Angeles police are seeking leads after protesters were targeted with metal ball bearings during a strike in downtown LA, resulting in injuries. The Los Angeles Police Department reported the assaults occurred on two separate days as workers picketed in front of a hotel on Figueroa Street. According to the LAPD News Release, the first incident happened on January 21, 2024, when a woman and a man were struck, sustaining minor abrasions.
LAPD News: Protesters Assaulted in Downtown LA
— LAPD PIO (@LAPDPIO) January 28, 2024
NR24029rc pic.twitter.com/2QsLiRvOZW
Picketing the next day, three men were hit, with one treated on the spot for minor lacerations while two others refused treatment. The metallic projectiles in question were near the protest site, but the police have yet to release a suspect description. Central Division Detectives, who are currently investigating the incidents, have turned to the public for help in solving these violent acts targeted against First Amendment-protected activities.
Witnesses or those with information are being encouraged to step forward and assist in the identification of any suspects. "Central Area Detectives are actively working these incidents and are seeking the public's help with any leads or tips to identify the suspect(s) involved in this assault with a deadly weapon of persons engaging in First Amendment protected activity," the LAPD release stated. Detective Shahid is taking calls at (213) 996-1839, with the department ensuring anonymity for those who wish through various anonymous tip lines.
The LAPD has made multiple channels available for the community to provide information, including the LA Regional Crime Stoppers hotline and a downloadable "P3 Tips" mobile application.
