A significant altercation erupted on Santa Monica Beach near the iconic pier, with two individuals hospitalized and five arrests following the chaos on Saturday afternoon, according to authorities. Santa Monica police were dispatched to the scene just after 2:21 p.m. where they found about 20 men involved in a confrontation near Tower 14, as reported by KTLA.

The situation escalated quickly with one person sustaining stab wounds and another suffering a broken ankle during the incident while a police drone, the first to respond, recorded an active fight unfolding, during the altercation many beach-goers were present, some treated for minor injuries right on the sand, as detailed by a CBS News statement from the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD).

One of the arrested individuals was identified as a street vendor by family members, according to an interview by NBC Los Angeles with Teresa Martinez, a visitor from Bakersfield who noted her shock upon witnessing the vendors running swiftly, indicating a sense of camaraderie and mutual aid amidst the upheaval.

Amidst the disorder, beachgoers expressed their surprise at the significant police presence; this sentiment was encapsulated by Danielle Russell's reaction to the throngs of responders, stating, “I’ve never seen that kind of police presence on the beach so we were a little startled by it,” as per KTLA. Law enforcement's rapid arrival, including three ambulances and a fire truck, quickly cordoned off large portions of the beach while helicopters hovered overhead, casting an unusual pall over the normally serene setting.