The city of Los Angeles has approved more than $21 million to settle a bitter legal battle over police accidentally blowing up a neighborhood with fireworks, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.
The City Council voted unanimously to settle more than a dozen lawsuits dating back to an incident on June 30, 2021, news outlets reported. report. (Related story: Los Angeles firefighter injured in ear after 'suspicious' explosion at homeless camp)
Seventeen people were injured and dozens were forced to evacuate after Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers improperly detonated illegal fireworks, the Associated Press reported. reportThe media outlet reported that the LADP estimated they found 32,000 pounds of fireworks and other explosives in the nearby area.
According to the Associated Press, a federal report said police explosives units stuffed about 40 pounds of dangerous fireworks into an armored containment container that detonated when it exploded, even though the container was designed to hold only 33 pounds of explosives.
Los Angeles to pay $21 million to settle lawsuit over failed firework detonation by police three years ago https://t.co/ZWcXHh6RC6
— Associated Press (@AP) July 3, 2024
“I strongly expect the LAPD to learn from this tragic incident and take all necessary steps to ensure such a tragedy never happens again for our city,” City Council Member Karen Price told the Los Angeles Times. The council member reportedly acknowledged the legal settlement was an “important step” in helping the victims recover and heal from the trauma.
In a statement, Price said he regretted taking so long, calling the process of resolving the matter “painfully slow,” according to the Los Angeles Times. His office argued that once settlement checks are sent, families who were living at the Rebel Hotel after the incident will have up to 90 days to find alternative housing, according to the paper.
“I don't know where I'm going, but it doesn't really matter,” Kenya Quintanilla, a victim of the fireworks attack who was forced to evacuate, told the outlet. “I just don't want to be in the hotel. I'm fed up.”
The media noted that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has yet to approve the legal settlement.
