On April 29, 1992, the jury in the Rodney King trial acquitted four LAPD officers of using excessive force in his arrest and subsequent beating.

The decision immediately ignited the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. Over a six-day period, acts of looting, assault, arson, and murder resulted in 63 deaths, over 2,300 injuries, and more than 12,000 arrests. Damages caused by the riot totaled nearly $1 billion. It’s estimated that 3,600 fires were set and over 1,100 buildings were destroyed. In addition to local law enforcement, it took the California National Guard, units of the United States military, and federal law enforcement agencies to suppress the rioters.

Late on the first night of the riot, I was taking pictures from the front seat of the CNN news van. We were driving by a corner mini-mall where looters were busy gathering merchandise. It was anarchy, with dozens of people looting and no law enforcement in sight. I leaned out of my window to get a clear view. I panned the entire scene with my camera. Out of the corner of my viewfinder I saw an object coming into view. It turned out to be a baseball bat. A gang member had thrown it toward my camera. It bounced off the side of our van. A moment later, another one came spinning my way. It hit the vent frame on the front window of the front passenger side of our van (right next to my head). The bat bounced inside the vehicle. It was smaller than a full-sized bat, but it left a nice dent in the metal frame. There were gang names carved all over the wooden bat. Just then I heard a gunshot and saw a muzzle flash from the rear of the van. It appeared to be aimed up in the air. We didn’t wait around to find out. I prompted the driver, “Drive!” and we left. I kept the bat.

LAPD officers beating Rodney King on March 3, 1991.

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