Authorities reported the discovery of a body on a sidewalk in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday.
A call came in around 1:30 AM from West 3rd Avenue and Broadway, where responders found an unresponsive man, whose identity hasn’t been released, according to the LAPD.
The area of investigation includes a T-Mobile store at a location that experienced significant looting amid violent protests across the city.
Video from the scene showed investigators examining the area where a man in a red sweatshirt was found before the body was covered.
As of now, the circumstances surrounding the man’s death are still under investigation, and it’s uncertain if it’s connected to the protests.
Things turned chaotic in the city starting Friday.
The unrest was fueled by overnight demonstrations that escalated into violence.
Amidst the turmoil, vandals took the opportunity to loot various local businesses, including several T-Mobile outlets and Foot Locker stores along South Broadway.
In the past three days, many arrests have been made as law enforcement works to regain order in the area.
This situation prompted President Trump to direct an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to the area on Monday. Alongside them, 700 Marines were deployed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegses, adding to the previously called forces, which drew criticism from Governor Gavin Newsom.
Newsom condemned the deployment of the National Guard, accusing the Trump administration of stoking tensions for political gain. However, the president responded by asserting that without the military presence, Los Angeles would have faced significant devastation.
Since the protests against ICE began over the weekend, looting has become widespread across the city.
Protesters engaged in violent actions, throwing rocks and concrete at federal officers, setting cars on fire, and even attacking highways.
