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Daredevil walks between downtown Los Angeles skyscrapers, high above skyline

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Daredevil walks between downtown Los Angeles skyscrapers, high above skyline

Shocking video captured a daredevil walking a rope between two downtown Los Angeles skyscrapers.

Oceanwide Plaza, a $1 billion mixed-use retail and luxury apartment building, has been vacant for years and has become infamously known as the graffiti towers, attracting artists and those looking to perform death-defying stunts.

YouTuber Ben Schneider was the latest to attempt a stunt at the location when he walked across a slackline between the buildings, looming high above the L.A. skyline.

Schneider, a self-proclaimed performance artist and daredevil, posts videos under the YouTube handle “Reckless Ben” and has amassed over 350,000 subscribers.

Despite a police perimeter surrounding the buildings, Schenider said he was able to slip past any watchful eyes on May 12.

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“We pretended we were a religious cult and we got 20 people to all hold signs saying ‘Jesus Saves’ and the signs were blocking the police’s point of view so we just hopped the fence,” he said.

Inside the building, he and his team members climbed 500 feet up the tower multiple times to string together and tighten two one-inch nylon straps between the towers.

  • YouTube daredevil and performance artist Ben Schneider is seen walking a small rope tied between two skyscrapers in downtown Los Angeles on May 12, 2024. (Ben Schneider)
  • YouTube daredevil and performance artist Ben Schneider is seen walking a small rope tied between two skyscrapers in downtown Los Angeles on May 12, 2024. (Ben Schneider)
  • YouTube daredevil and performance artist Ben Schneider is seen walking a small rope tied between two skyscrapers in downtown Los Angeles on May 12, 2024. (Ben Schneider)
  • YouTube daredevil and performance artist Ben Schneider is seen walking a small rope tied between two skyscrapers in downtown Los Angeles on May 12, 2024. (Ben Schneider)
  • YouTube daredevil and performance artist Ben Schneider is seen walking a small rope tied between two skyscrapers in downtown Los Angeles on May 12, 2024. (Ben Schneider)
  • YouTube daredevil and performance artist Ben Schneider is seen walking a small rope tied between two skyscrapers in downtown Los Angeles on May 12, 2024. (Ben Schneider)
  • YouTube daredevil and performance artist Ben Schneider is seen walking a small rope tied between two skyscrapers in downtown Los Angeles on May 12, 2024. (Ben Schneider)

While holding a camera attached to a selfie stick, Schneider carefully mounts the line and begins walking across the rope, his camera capturing the soaring viewpoint and moving traffic down below.

“I call it moral graffiti,” Schneider said of his stunt. “I’m a moral graffiti artist. I vandalize buildings without causing any building damage.”

Schneider, who is an experienced slackliner, spent over two minutes walking the line while attached to a safety harness.

“I was pretty confident that Ben could pull it off,” said Lydia Ren, Schneider’s team member who served as a lookout during the stunt. “I just do this for fun. This is not a job. I actually work at a VR startup so this is like my weekend thing.”

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Once police realized there were trespassers inside the towers, authorities began searching the premises. Schneider was seen hiding in a bathtub and covering himself with plywood. He stayed there for several hours before finally exiting the building and evading arrest.

Despite the name of his YouTube handle, Schneider said he’s well aware of the dangers of such stunts. 

“Everything’s dangerous,” he said. “Driving a car is dangerous, but we still drive. The stunt I did was dangerous but I think the reward outweighed the risk because I think we inspired a lot of people. I got to push myself out of my comfort zone. We got to do something scary and inspire the world to go live their best life.”

Oceanwide Plaza is a $1 billion mixed-use retail and luxury apartment project with three unfinished structures. Construction had stalled in January 2019 after the developer lacked the funds to complete it.

  • Downtown LA Graffiti
  • Tagger graffitis 27 stories of skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles
  • Tagger graffitis 27 stories of skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles
  • Video shows daredevil tagger on ledge of downtown L.A. skyscraper
  • Video shows daredevil tagger on ledge of downtown L.A. skyscraper
  • Police respond to Oceanwide Plaza in downtown Los Angeles after reports of possible trespassers
  • Tagger graffitis 27 stories of skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles
  • Tagger graffitis 27 stories of skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles
  • Police respond to Oceanwide Plaza in downtown Los Angeles after reports of possible trespassers
  • Police respond to Oceanwide Plaza in downtown Los Angeles after reports of possible trespassers
  • Gunfire erupts at vandalized skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles
  • Video shows daredevil tagger on ledge of downtown L.A. skyscraper
  • Video shows daredevil tagger on ledge of downtown L.A. skyscraper

The complex, which is located in the heart of downtown L.A.’s entertainment district, has attracted many artists which have since covered over 27 stories of its exterior with graffiti.

The building has been an ongoing problem for police and city leaders due to constant trespassing for those eager to tag the building, perform death-defying stunts, and or even BASE jump.

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In March 2024, city council members agreed to allot $3.8 million to clean up and secure the site, which has seen numerous arrests in the weeks since the tagging began.

Footage of Schneider’s stunt can be seen in the video player above.

Los Angeles, Ca

Eaton Fire victim dies holding a hose, defending home

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Eaton Fire victim dies holding a hose, defending home

One of the five confirmed fatalities from the destructive Eaton Fire was identified on Wednesday morning when his family found his body on the side of the road by their home – with a garden hose still in his hand.

According to his loved ones, 66-year-old Victor Shaw died trying to defend the home that had been in his family for nearly 55 years.

As of Wednesday night, Victor’s body was still on his family’s property in the 3000 block of Monterose Avenue as conditions were not yet safe enough for the coroner’s office to retrieve him.

Victor lived in that home with his younger sister, Shari Shaw, who said that she tried to get him to evacuate with her on Tuesday night as the fire moved toward them.

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Those close to Victor said he had some health problems that prevented him from moving around very well.

As she was running out the door, Shari said Victor told her he wanted to stay behind and try to fight the fire.

“When I went back in and yelled out his name, he didn’t reply back, and I had to get out because the embers were so big and flying like a firestorm – I had to save myself,” Shari told KTLA’s Rick Chambers. “And I looked behind me, and the house was starting to go up in flames, and I had to leave.”

A family friend, Al Tanner, told KTLA that the next morning, they found Victor’s charred body on the side of the road with the hose.

“It looks like he was trying to save the home that his parents had for almost 55 years,” said Tanner.

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“I fell to the ground, and I didn’t know – I didn’t want to look at him,” said Shari. “They just told me that he was lying on the ground and that he looked serene, as if he was at peace.”

As of early morning Thursday, the cause of the 10,600-acre Eaton Fire remained under investigation. 

The Eaton Fire was one of four large, active wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The largest, the 17,234-acre Palisades Fire, destroyed an estimated 1,000 structures. A separate 855-acre fire, the Hurst Fire, burned in the L.A. neighborhood of Sylmar. A fast-moving fire in the Antelope Valley called the Lidia Fire has burned at least 348 acres and forced evacuations. Crews have made progress on the 43-acre Sunset Fire which forced rapid evacuations in the Hollywood Hills.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Help needed as injured animals arrive at Pasadena Humane Society due to wildfire

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Help needed as injured animals arrive at Pasadena Humane Society due to wildfire

As the deadly Eaton Fire continues burning in Los Angeles County, Pasadena Humane is seeking help as a large number of animals are being evacuated.

Over 100 animals arrived at the organization on Wednesday, and workers expected more drop-offs to come in over the next few days.

“Due to the proximity of the evacuation zones, we are also making preparations to evacuate the shelter, if needed,” workers said. “At this time, all animals are safe and unharmed at the shelter.”

  • A dog who was found near the site of the Eaton Fires was covered in burns and ashes and was very dehydrated. His paw pads were singed and he is being treated by the veterinary team in the ICU an dprovided with wound care, pain medications and fluids. (Pasadena Humane Society)
  • A cat found with burn injuries on his face and body was treated at the ICU before recovering in an oxygen kennel. (Pasadena Humane Society)
  • A cat found with burn injuries on his face and body was treated at the ICU before recovering in an oxygen kennel. (Pasadena Humane Society)
  • An injured cat found covered in burns was treated in the ICU. (Pasadena Humane Society)
  • A small bird found with burns on its tail area was treated at the Wildlife Center. (Pasadena Humane Society)
  • An injured dog and cat found near the Eaton Fire site were treated by shelter staff at the Pasadena Humane Society.

Many of the animals arriving at the shelter were found with burn injuries.

Shelter workers said critical supplies are needed due to the influx of animals including food, water bowls, extra large crates and blankets. Anyone able to donate these items can drop them off at the donation bin located at the shelter’s front parking lot.

On Wednesday, workers said kennel space was filling up quickly and evacuees who need emergency boarding for their pets can drop them off at spcaLA at 5026 W. Jefferson Blvd. in Los Angeles. Large animals should be taken to the L.A. Equestrian Center at 480 Riverside Dr. in Burbank. 

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Pasadena Humane Animal Control Officers will continue working in the field, assisting with animal evacuations, while Pasadena Humane staff are working round-the-clock at the shelter to care for the animals of displaced families.

“We are currently coordinating with Cal Animals and ASPCA disaster response to mobilize more resources to assist with the situation,” staff said. “We anticipate getting in even more animals who are in need of emergency medical care as the fires continue.”

As shelter space is limited, anyone who can foster a dog or cat for at least a week is urged to email the Pasadena Humane Foster Office or visit in person.

Donations to provide emergency resources to animals affected by the wildfires can be made here. Anyone who finds injured wildlife can text 626-344-1129 or call Animal Control at 626-792-7151 ext. 970.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Six Flags Magic Mountain closed due to extreme winds

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Six Flags Magic Mountain closed due to extreme winds

(KTLA) — Six Flags Magic Mountain will remain closed on Wednesday due to high winds in the area.

Tickets purchased for Wednesday will be honored on “any other regular operating day” until Dec. 31, the theme park announced on Instagram.

Universal Studios Hollywood and CityWalk also chose not to welcome guests due to fires and extreme wind conditions in the region. Officials haven’t announced if tickets will be honored on future days.

An unprecedented windstorm that started Tuesday has led to multiple fires burning across the region, including the Palisades Fire in L.A.’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood, which has grown to over 5,000 acres.

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Elsewhere, the Eaton Fire near Altadena has grown to over 10,000 acres and has claimed the lives of two people. Additionally, the Hurst Fire near Sylmar has burned more than 500 acres.

So far, Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm haven’t announced any closures or reduced hours of operation due to the wildfires.

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