Incident at L.A. City Hall
Introduction to the Incident
A driver who crashed into the steps of Los Angeles’ City Hall and barricaded himself in the car later surrendered to police on Friday evening, Oct. 3.
Just before 6 p.m., the man got out of his car and walked with his hands behind his head, southbound down Broadway towards First Street, where police officers detained him without incident.
A couple of hours earlier, the LA Police Department responded to a call about a traffic collision and found the car on the steps of City Hall near Broadway and south of First Street in downtown LA.
The man, who authorities said was in his 60s, appeared to be in distress and had two signs on the dashboard of the car that said, “Don’t want to hurt no body,” and “I need ur help D Trump U.S. Vet,” according to broadcast reports.
Details of the Standoff
After speaking with police on the phone for over an hour, the gray-haired man came out of the car wearing a Pink Floyd “The dark side of the moon” t-shirt.
“I’ve been briefed on the ongoing incident outside of City Hall, which is currently being evacuated out of an abundance of caution. I want to thank all first responders who are at the scene — my office will continue to monitor the situation,” Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement.
City Hall and the area near Grand Park were placed under evacuation as a precaution. Bomb squad personnel responded to the scene following the arrest to ensure the area was safe.
No further details were immediately available.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Incident Timeline
Originally Published: October 3, 2025 at 5:41 PM PDT
Conclusion
The incident at L.A. City Hall, involving a driver crashing into the steps and subsequently surrendering after a standoff, highlights the importance of rapid response and careful handling of potentially volatile situations by law enforcement. The safety of both the individual involved and the public was prioritized, as evidenced by the evacuation of City Hall and the deployment of bomb squad personnel.
FAQs
What happened at L.A. City Hall?
A driver crashed into the steps of L.A. City Hall and later surrendered to police after a standoff.
Who was involved in the incident?
The incident involved a man in his 60s, who appeared to be in distress and had signs on his car dashboard seeking help.
What measures were taken by the authorities?
The authorities evacuated City Hall and the surrounding area as a precaution and deployed bomb squad personnel to ensure the area was safe.
Is the situation resolved?
Yes, the situation was resolved when the man surrendered to police without incident.
Were there any injuries or damages reported?
No further details were immediately available regarding injuries or damages.