Violent Encounter Erupts Between Protesters and Federal Agents in Downtown L.A.

Editor’s Note: KTLA has emailed officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for confirmation of this incident and is awaiting a response.

(KTLA) A violent clash between demonstrators and officers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reportedly unfolded outside the federal courthouse, near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles Thursday afternoon.  

The incident, according to a witness who emailed local affiliate KTLA, unfolded at around 1:15 p.m. in the 500 block of North Alameda Street.  

In camera footage of the clash, officers donning bullet-proof vests emblazoned with the words “Homeland Security” crossed the street where a handful of “Occupy ICE” demonstrators were camped out in front of signs, many of them containing profanity, protesting the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in L.A. 

It’s unclear why officers initially approached the demonstrators, but the situation quickly devolved into a violent physical struggle where several people, including two women, were taken to the ground as a man was pulled out of the group and separated by several officers.  

Another man, in a white T-shirt with a backpack, looked as if he was yelling at officers to stop, prompting one of the officers armed with what appeared to be a less-than-lethal firearm to raise the weapon in the man’s direction.  

As the confrontation continued, the man initially pulled into the street can be seen struggling with agents, eventually ending up on the ground with three officers on top of him. 

Another protester was caught by DHS officers as he attempted to run away from the scene.  

The witness claimed that federal officers crossed the street without provocation, adding that an official later said one of the men was targeted for permanent-marker graffiti, though these details have not yet been confirmed by federal officials.

It is unclear if any arrests were made.