A man's body was found on a sidewalk in downtown Los Angeles early Tuesday morning, near businesses that were targeted by looters during ongoing anti-ICE protests. The discovery adds another layer of tension to the chaotic situation unfolding in the city.
According to Breitbart, authorities received a call around 1:30 a.m. about a body on the sidewalk at West 3rd and Broadway, an intersection where a T-Mobile store was recently looted. Police have not yet identified the man, who was wearing a red sweatshirt.
Officials have not determined whether the death is connected to the riots that erupted over the weekend. The protests initially began as demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations targeting illegal immigrants but quickly devolved into widespread looting and property destruction.
President Donald Trump has authorized additional National Guard troops to be sent to Los Angeles as the city struggles to contain the spreading unrest. The deployment comes as local authorities appear overwhelmed by the scale of the disturbances.
Trump criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for their handling of the situation. In a post on Truth Social, the president claimed that without his intervention, the city would be "burning to the ground right now."
The situation has created a political firestorm, with Trump taking a firm law-and-order stance while local Democratic officials face mounting criticism. The president referenced recent wildfires in his criticism, suggesting a pattern of mismanagement by state and local leadership.
Local business owners have expressed frustration that what began as political protests have transformed into opportunistic looting. Many feel the original message of the demonstrations has been lost amid the chaos.
One business owner told reporters that the situation had nothing to do with legitimate protest. "This is so ridiculous. This doesn't look like they're protesting ICE or anything. They are doing... just for the looting the stores and everything. I saw them break into the Apple Store, they break into the Adidas store. This is not... they're doing protest," he stated.
Another business owner, whose establishment was ransacked by looters, described the situation as "horrible," lamenting that "years of work" were gone. The economic impact on these small businesses comes at a particularly difficult time, as many were still recovering from pandemic-related hardships.
Video footage from the scene shows looters fleeing from stores as police attempt to apprehend them. In one clip, officers can be seen tackling individuals as they rush out of a building with stolen merchandise.
The anti-ICE protests began in response to immigration enforcement operations in the city, but quickly spiraled out of control. Some protesters claim they were attempting to prevent ICE agents from conducting raids, but the situation rapidly evolved into something more chaotic.
Law enforcement officials are now investigating multiple incidents across the city, including the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body. Police were seen assessing the area before covering the deceased man.
The riots in Los Angeles have highlighted deep political divisions across the country regarding immigration enforcement. The situation has drawn comments from various celebrities and political figures on both sides of the debate.
Kim Kardashian has criticized ICE for what she characterized as "ripping innocent people from their families," while the Department of Homeland Security has countered by highlighting the criminal records of many individuals targeted in the operations. These include individuals wanted for serious crimes.
Governor Newsom is reportedly preparing legal action against the Trump administration over what he considers an "illegal" National Guard deployment. Meanwhile, labor leaders have pledged solidarity with undocumented immigrants rather than American workers, further inflaming tensions between opposing political camps.
