A chaotic scene unfolded at the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance on Saturday as hundreds of juveniles clashed, prompting a massive law enforcement response and the mall's early closure. The disturbance started around 5:00 p.m. when officers on foot patrol at the mall noticed juveniles engaging in disruptive behavior, according to a press release from the Torrance Police Department. The situation escalated as additional groups continued to amass, resulting in skirmishes and an injured officer, requiring backup from eleven neighboring law enforcement agencies to restore order.
What started as a group of juveniles arguing around 12:42 p.m. quickly spiraled into a series of physical fights, leading to a temporary shutdown of the mall and police clearing out shoppers to ensure safety. This cascade of events led to at least one juvenile fighting with an officer, a spokesperson for the Torrance Police Department told KABC. Amidst chaos, there were several arrests although the total number of participants in the brawl remains unclear, as well as injuries to any involved parties.
Reports suggested a social media-driven plan for a smash-and-grab meet-up at the mall at 7:00 p.m. However, this is unconfirmed at this time, as indicated by CBS Los Angeles. A citywide alert notified residents of street closures around the southeast side of the mall due to the large crowd, and footage showed a throng of customers leaving the mall and a heavy police presence with officers using loudspeakers to disperse the crowd.
Torrance Mayor George K. Chen described the happenings as "a very sad state" when youth cause "harm and havoc" in the community. Post-incident, the police maintain an increased presence at the Del Amo Fashion Center with patrols both on foot and in marked vehicles.
