A 400-man riot broke out at a Florida skate park after the venue canceled a planned after-party at the last minute.
The huge brawl broke out Saturday night in the Astro Skate parking lot in Brandon after frustrated party organizers put out an online call encouraging people to “riot” and “confront the authorities” at the park. skating.
More than 400 people, both children and adults, took part in the rampage, fighting, stealing and causing damage to local businesses.
One group of rioters caused $500 worth of damage to a convenience store and another beat a minor before throwing him through a glass window at a nearby barbershop.
Twenty-three juveniles and six adults were arrested in the violent outbreak, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
A 400-man riot broke out at Astro Skate in Brandon, Florida, on Saturday night after the venue canceled a planned after-party at the last minute.
Frustrated partygoers (pictured during the riot) put out a call on social media encouraging people to “riot” and “confront law enforcement” at the skate park.
A group of rioters beat a minor before throwing him through a glass window at a nearby barbershop. In the photo, the broken windows after the attack at the Time Out barbershop.
Authorities were called to Astro Skate around 9:20 p.m. Saturday after an off-duty officer reported a large crowd fighting in the parking lot.
Investigators say the fight broke out after Astro Skate canceled a planned after-party because the event hosts did not hire an off-duty attendant to monitor the event, per company policy.
Although the skate park refunded their money, partygoers were apparently angry and took to social media to ask people to gather at the business and riot.
When officers arrived on the scene, approximately 400 to 500 people were fighting and causing disturbances in the Astro Skate parking lot and nearby businesses.
Officers issued multiple warnings informing the crowd that they had invaded the property and should leave, but the group continued the rampage.
Smaller groups broke away from the larger fighting and attacked nearby businesses.
A escape group attacked a minor inside the Time Out barbershop. They beat him and threw him against the store window.
The boy, age undisclosed, suffered a serious cut to his hand and was taken to Tampa General Hospital in stable condition.
Another group entered a nearby convenience store, stole an undetermined amount of merchandise, and caused more than $500 worth of damage to the store’s selection of wine bottles.
The boy who was attacked at the barbershop suffered a severe cut to his hand and was taken to Tampa General Hospital in stable condition.
This is a view from inside the Time Out barbershop where a juvenile was attacked during Saturday night’s riot in Brandon, Florida.
Twenty-three juveniles and six adults were arrested in the violent outbreak, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
After refusing to comply with deputies, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested a total of 29 people. The six arrested adults were booked into the Orient Road Jail and the 23 minors were transferred to the Juvenile Assessment Centre.
Sheriff Chad Chronister said he is “outraged” by the violence and disruption caused by the group and has vowed that “violent and destructive behavior will never, under any circumstances, be tolerated in Hillsborough County.”
‘I am outraged by the violent and disruptive behavior that targeted hard-working people and businesses and created harm, fear and chaos in our community. “Let me make this unequivocally clear: this violent and destructive behavior will never, under any circumstances, be tolerated in Hillsborough County,” Sheriff Chronister said.
‘When responding to a hectic scene like this, our deputies must be aware of the potential danger from any direction. As you can see in the horrible images, these individuals had no regard for safety, our officers had to intervene to calm the situation professionally and quickly.
The incident remains under investigation.