Multiple people injured in drunken brawl at Copa América final watch party in Los Angeles

Will Conybeare
·2 min read
1

Multiple people were hospitalized after a watch party for the Copa América final in Los Angeles turned violent Sunday night.

Video from the large event, which took place in a parking lot near a Colombian restaurant at South Union Avenue and James M. Wood Boulevard in L.A.’s Pico-Union neighborhood, shows hundreds of fans, including families with children, at what appeared to be a joyous gathering for the tournament’s final match between Colombia and Argentina.

However, rowdy behavior and violence broke out when the match was over, according to witnesses.

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“We got here, and the game had just finished up…there were a lot of festivities, joy and people having a good time,” one witness, who was not identified, said.  “That great time turned into a lot of drinking and that drinking turned into violence…next thing you know, they are closing the gates.”

  • Multiple people were stabbed at a Copa América final watch party in Los Angeles. (TNLA)
    Multiple people were stabbed at a Copa América final watch party in Los Angeles. (TNLA)
  • Multiple people were stabbed at a Copa América final watch party in Los Angeles. (TNLA)
    Multiple people were stabbed at a Copa América final watch party in Los Angeles. (TNLA)
  • Police in riot gear respond after multiple people were stabbed at a Copa América final watch party in Los Angeles. (TNLA)
    Police in riot gear respond after multiple people were stabbed at a Copa América final watch party in Los Angeles. (TNLA)
  • A large crowd gathered for a Copa América watch party in Los Angeles. (TNLA)
    A large crowd gathered for a Copa América watch party in Los Angeles. (TNLA)
  • A large crowd gathered for a Copa América watch party in Los Angeles. (TNLA)
    A large crowd gathered for a Copa América watch party in Los Angeles. (TNLA)
  • The site of a Copa América final watch party that turned violent. (KTLA)
    The site of a Copa América final watch party that turned violent. (KTLA)

Preliminary information indicated that bottles were thrown and at least one person was stabbed. The Los Angeles Police Department later confirmed that one person was hospitalized with a stab wound and another with complaints of pain from an assault.

Multiple battery reports were taken, LAPD added.

Police quickly responded to the scene and immediately called for backup; footage from the scene obtained by KTLA shows officers in riot gear blocking off the area and dispersing the crowd.

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As of 7 a.m, Monday, no arrests have been made.

The start of the Copa América final was delayed by over an hour and 15 minutes due to fans breaching the gates of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, where the match was being held.

Argentina won the final 1-0 after extra time, giving them a record 16th Copa title.

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