Body Found Near Looted LA Stores as Anti-ICE Unrest Continues

Fifth day of chaos sees unidentified man discovered on downtown sidewalk as political battle over National Guard deployment intensifies

LOS ANGELES — A man’s body was discovered early Tuesday on a downtown sidewalk near looted retail stores, marking another grim development as Los Angeles enters its fifth day of anti-ICE protests that have spiraled into widespread violence and destruction.

The unidentified man, wearing a red sweatshirt, was found unresponsive at 1:30 a.m. near West 3rd Street and Broadway—an intersection where a T-Mobile store was ransacked during weekend riots. While the LAPD confirmed the death is under investigation, authorities have not yet determined if it’s connected to the ongoing unrest that has seen:

Mass looting of cellphone stores, Foot Lockers, and gas stations
Torched vehicles blocking major roadways
700 Marines deployed alongside 4,000 National Guard troops

A man’s body was found on a downtown Los Angeles sidewalk as looting and chaotic protests plague the city, cops said.

A City on Edge

The discovery comes amid escalating tensions between federal and state officials. President Trump doubled down on his hardline stance Tuesday, defending his decision to deploy military personnel: “If we hadn’t acted, Los Angeles would be completely obliterated by now.”

Yet California Governor Gavin Newsom continues to push back, filing a lawsuit Monday alleging Trump overstepped constitutional bounds by federalizing the state’s National Guard. The Democratic governor maintains the administration is “weaponizing federal power” for political gain.

Looters break into a gas station’s marketplace in the Compton neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, early on June 8, 2025.

Pattern of Destruction

KTLA footage from the death investigation shows forensic teams working just blocks from where:

Masked looters smashed downtown storefronts Sunday night
Protesters hurled scooters onto the 101 Freeway Monday
A journalist was hospitalized after being struck by police projectiles

The riots began Friday after ICE arrested 118 undocumented immigrants—including several with violent criminal histories—sparking clashes that have since spread to Compton, Paramount, and Inglewood. Over 60 arrests have been made, with federal prosecutors vowing to pursue charges against those who attacked officers.

Looting has plagued the city since the anti-ICE riots kicked off over the weekend.

What Investigators Are Saying

While the coroner’s office works to identify the deceased and determine cause of death, community activists are demanding transparency. “Was this another victim of the chaos, or an unrelated tragedy?” asked Reverend James Williams of the LA Urban League. “This family deserves answers.”

As cleanup crews board up shattered storefronts, the political fallout grows louder than the fading chants of protesters. With Trump pledging “total restoration of order” and Newsom accusing him of “authoritarian overreach,” Los Angeles remains caught in the crossfire of America’s most divisive battles.