Los Angeles Riots - 63 PEOPLE KILLED- OVER 2,300 INJURIES - 12, 000 ARRESTS - $1 BILLION IN DAMAGES
Six days of rioting in Los Angeles following the acquittal of four police officers in the beating of Rodney King, resulting in 63 deaths and $1 billion in damages.
63 PEOPLE KILLED- OVER 2,300 INJURIES - 12, 000 ARRESTS
On April 29, 1992, a predominantly white jury acquitted four Los Angeles Police Department officers in the beating of Rodney King, a Black motorist whose violent arrest had been captured on video. The verdict triggered six days of rioting, looting, arson, and violence across South Central Los Angeles. 63 people were killed, over 2,000 injured, and approximately $1 billion in property was destroyed.
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On April 29, 1992, a predominantly white jury acquitted four Los Angeles Police Department officers in the beating of Rodney King, a Black motorist whose violent arrest had been captured on video. The verdict triggered six days of rioting, looting, arson, and violence across South Central Los Angeles. 63 people were killed, over 2,000 injured, and approximately $1 billion in property was destroyed. The National Guard, U.S. Army, and Marines were deployed. The riots exposed deep racial tensions in policing and became one of the most destructive civil disturbances in American history.
April 29, 1992: Day 1 (The Verdict)
3:15 PM: Jury acquits four LAPD officers.
4:00 PM: Protesters gather at Florence and Normandie.
5:45 PM: LAPD units retreat from the intersection.
6:30 PM: Truck driver Reginald Denny is beaten.
9:00 PM: Mayor Bradley declares state of emergency.
April 30, 1992: Day 2 (Escalation)
12:15 AM: Governor Wilson deploys National Guard.
Throughout day: Looting spreads to Koreatown.
Storeowners: Armed merchants defend their properties.
Curfew: Citywide curfew is officially enacted.
May 1, 1992: Day 3 (A Plea for Peace)
Rodney King: Asks "Can we all get along?"
National Guard: 4,000 guard members arrive.
Violence: Arson and looting continue to spread.
May 2, 1992: Day 4 (Military Arrival)
Federal Troops: 3,500 military personnel arrive.
Order: Massive presence slows down the violence.
Volunteers: Thousands start sweeping up debris.
May 3, 1992: Day 5 (The Calm)
Stabilization: Violence drops to near zero.
Unity: 30,000 people march for peace.
Services: Limited public transit options resume.
May 4, 1992: Day 6 (The End)
Lifting: Curfew is officially lifted.
Business: Schools and businesses fully reopen.
Troops: Soldiers remain to maintain order.
Following the global outrage and civil unrest over the initial 1992 state-level acquittals, the federal government stepped in to prosecute the four officers for willfully violating Rodney King's constitutional rights.
The Verdicts (April 17, 1993)
Guilty: Sergeant Stacey Koon and Officer Laurence Powell were found guilty of violating King's civil rights. Koon was convicted for permitting the violation to occur, while Powell was convicted for using unreasonable force.
Acquitted: Officers Timothy Wind and Theodore Briseno were found not guilty and cleared of all federal charges.
The Sentences and Financial Settlements
Prison Time: On August 4, 1993, U.S. District Judge John Davies sentenced both Koon and Powell to 30 months (2.5 years) in federal prison.
Civil Lawsuit (1994): In a separate civil lawsuit against the city, a jury found the City of Los Angeles liable and awarded Rodney King $3.8 million in compensatory damages.
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