
An LAist tipster shot this photo outside the Staples Center this afternoon. Sure, it looks like an LAPD convention, but in fact today was the Black College Expo. The event was supposed to feature seminars on financial aid, college prep and the like, with a step show competition and scholarship awards.
But the rumor is that today's event also featured some kind of gang fight. Perhaps even a very large gang fight. So far the local news isn't covering it, but we know that the police don't close city blocks and line them with police cars (our tipster counted 70) for nothing.
If you're headed toward downtown, traffic will likely be jammed up. As of this 5:45pm writing, helicopters are still circling. And if you know more of the story, LAist would love to hear what happened.




I wish I could get this sort of response in my neighborhood. I guess the moral of the story is not to pop any balloons near downtown...
http://www.nbc4.tv/news/6952502/detail.html
there's nothing more threatening than an educated black man.
wow! i was right outside the building when we saw everybody runnign out-"they were shooting inside!"- it was crazy to see that many cops outside, they had like all the LAPD and the whole SWAT team...it was definitely a sight to see!
C'mon people I was there, someone popped a balloon, a few kids began to run and before you knew everybody started running. The police did overreact but considering the type of event and the importance of the event they were just playing it safe.