Yahoo Autos Another Los Angeles Street Takeover Turns Fatal
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A street takeover in South Los Angeles early on the morning of August 11 erupted in violence as a man was shot and killed. It’s a sad but predictable result of these illegal gatherings being treated with kid gloves by lawmakers, law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges.
Watch a Georgia trooper wreck a fleeing Camaro.
Details about the incident seem to be sparse with police not saying much. ABC7 reports witnesses confirmed the shooting was at a street takeover, but there’s no indication if the shooter or victim were participating in it.
Fox 11 was able to get confirmation from Los Angeles Police Department that a street takeover was happening at the location at the time of the shooting. It was also stated the victim was between 40 and 50 years old. But that’s all the department is confirming.
It’s possible, although we don’t know, that the person shot might have confronted takeover participants or even tried breaking the illegal event up. We’ve seen people try that before and are literally beat to the ground.
Considering the violent nature of takeovers or sideshows, we think the likelihood at least one of the people involved was a pedestrian watching if not someone doing tricks in their car is high. After all, the illegal events are magnets for crime, both violent and not, which is one of many reasons they should be treated more harshly than they currently are in Los Angeles and certain other cities.
In some states, new laws target street takeovers and street racing, allowing police to seize vehicles and enhancing charges prosecutors can file against defendants.
Not only do beatings and shootings happen disturbingly often at takeovers, so do robberies, assaults, drug deals, human trafficking, even retail break-ins. Plus, the gatherings do damage to infrastructure as well as private property, including quite a few stolen cars used for performing tricks.
Image via Fox 11 Los Angeles/YouTube
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