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2 hospitalized after driver crashes into crowd during Anaheim street takeover

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2 hospitalized after driver crashes into crowd during Anaheim street takeover

Two people were hospitalized after a driver ran over them during a chaotic street takeover in Anaheim early Friday morning.

The victims were only identified as a man from Lancaster and a man from Orange.

Video of the takeover showed hundreds of bystanders gathered at the intersection of Orangewood Avenue and State College Boulevard at around 2 a.m. 

Many were seen still wearing their Halloween costumes and enthusiastically gathering around while recording the chaos on their phones.

A driver in a black Dodge Charger was seen revving the engines and performing a series of donuts and burnouts at high speeds, narrowly missing bystanders on the sidelines.

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Fireworks were ignited in the crowd as the area filled with burnout smoke and the roaring sounds of spectators cheering.

  • The suspect's black Dodge Charger narrowly misses bystanders as he looped around at high-speeds in Anaheim on Nov. 1, 2024. (@05irvin)
  • The moment the suspect plowed into a crowd of bystanders, trapping two people underneath the car on Nov. 1, 2024. (@05irvin)
  • Bystanders lifted the vehicle to rescue the two young men trapped underneath the car during an Anaheim street takeover on Nov. 1, 2024.
  • Drivers performing burnouts and donuts during a street takeover in Anaheim on Nov. 1, 2024. (Southern Counties News)
  • Drivers performing burnouts and donuts during a street takeover in Anaheim on Nov. 1, 2024. (Southern Counties News)
  • The suspect's black Dodge Charger narrowly misses bystanders as he looped around at high-speeds in Anaheim on Nov. 1, 2024. (@05irvin)
  • Drivers performing burnouts and donuts during a street takeover in Anaheim on Nov. 1, 2024. (Southern Counties News)
  • The suspect's black Dodge Charger narrowly misses bystanders as he looped around at high-speeds in Anaheim on Nov. 1, 2024. (@05irvin)
  • Drivers performing burnouts and donuts during a street takeover in Anaheim on Nov. 1, 2024. (Southern Counties News)

Dave Downs, a Chapman University student, recalled the confusion he felt when he heard the frenzy and commotion outside his apartment.

“It was late and it was a bit of, ‘Is this actually happening or am I asleep?’” he said in disbelief.

Downs and his roommate, Julian Romano, live in an off-campus housing unit which was located just feet away from the chaotic takeover.

As the driver continued spinning out, at one point, he lost control and struck several bystanders at the center of the intersection, trapping two people underneath the car. The vehicle moved forward and the rear passenger side could be seen lifting up as the wheel rolled over one of the victims.

Videos on social media showed people trying to lift the Dodge Charger to rescue the young men, one of whom looked bloodied and barely conscious.

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The injured teens were rushed to the hospital with major injuries, but authorities confirmed they remained in stable condition on Friday night.

As the crowd attacked the Dodger Charger, the suspect driver was able to flee the scene amid the mayhem before police could arrive. Most of the spectators also left the area before arrests were made. 

“Social media is one of the main driving forces of how these events are publicized and so that’s how a lot of participants receive their information,” explained Sgt. Jacob Gallacher with the Anaheim Police Department. “People come from all over the Southland to participate in these and, within a moment’s notice, you’ll have several hundred people in an intersection participating in this very unsafe, reckless behavior.”

Back in 2021, the City of Anaheim passed a law allowing its police department to cite spectators at street takeovers.

Jack Wyluda, a witness, said Friday’s dangerous takeover lasted a while — at least an hour — if not longer. 

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Wyluda said he was also not surprised the gathering ended with serious injuries.

“We saw some people get hit, but they didn’t go under the car, they were just hit by the side of it,” he recalled. “We saw it from the balcony [of my apartment], and we were like, ‘Why are people participating in this?’”

Police are still searching for the suspect driver. He faces possible felony hit-and-run charges. 

Detectives are studying videos of the event that were posted on social media to aid in the search. They also believe there were more people who were injured in the event that have not come forward.

Anyone with information on the incident can call Anaheim Police at 714-765-1900.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Man found guilty of sex trafficking victim along L.A.’s Figueroa Corridor

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Man found guilty of sex trafficking victim along L.A.’s Figueroa Corridor

A former Riverside County man was found guilty of sex trafficking a female victim and forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts along L.A.’s notorious Figueroa Corridor.

Elias Abdul Shabazz, 34, formerly of Perris, was found guilty by a jury following a five-day trial, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Prosecutors said Shabazz had led the victim to believe they were in a romantic relationship before he turned physically and sexually violent. He began demanding that the victim engage in commercial sex acts from May to October of 2021, court documents said.

He carried a handgun with him and, on occasion, was accused of using it to pistol-whip the victim. He also fired the gun at her feet while threatening to kill her, prosecutors said.

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At trial, the victim said Shabazz demanded that she meet a daily quota of commercial sex proceeds and that she was terrified of the consequences of not meeting that quota. 

She testified that Shabazz compelled her to work in the notorious Figueroa Corridor in South L.A., a dangerous area known for human trafficking and prostitution.

Shabazz had confiscated her identification card, Social Security card and birth certificate. He constantly monitored her cell phone to stop her from communicating with any friends or family.

“He also introduced her to addictive narcotics and controlled every aspect of her life, including when she ate, slept and showered,” prosecutors said.

In May 2025, Shabazz was arrested and has remained in federal custody. His last known address at the time was in Washington, D.C.

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On June 26, 2026, Shabazz was found guilty of one count of coercing or enticing interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6, where he faces 15 years to life in prison.

“Sex trafficking matters rank among the most tragic cases our office prosecutes,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “This defendant will now face many years in a federal prison cell for his sick, disgusting, and disturbing behavior.”

“Elias Shabazz preyed on a vulnerable victim using physical and sexual violence and cruel psychological coercion to compel commercial sex acts for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “There is no place for this type of conduct in civilized society. We deeply respect the victim’s courage to face her trafficker in court. The Criminal Division will continue to bring these cases and try them.”

Anyone with information about human trafficking can report tips to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888

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Los Angeles, Ca

Watch Project Angel Food's 'Lead with Love' telethon on KTLA

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Watch Project Angel Food's 'Lead with Love' telethon on KTLA

The star-studded feel-good giveback event of the summer has returned. KTLA 5 is teaming up once again with Project Angel Food for the annual “Lead with Love: Going the Distance” telethon to raise critical funds for medically tailored meals delivered to people living with serious illnesses throughout Los Angeles County. The seventh annual telethon airs […]

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Los Angeles, Ca

Woman ambushed, violently attacked by robber in downtown Long Beach

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Woman ambushed, violently attacked by robber in downtown Long Beach

A woman was hospitalized with serious injuries after she was violently attacked by a robber in downtown Long Beach. On June 18, Jennifer Silva, 34, was attending a World Cup watch party at a Hooters restaurant at 90 Aquarium Way. After the game ended, she left the restaurant just before 11 p.m. As she walked […]

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