LA City Council Approves $21M Settlement for Botched Fireworks Detonation

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 3, 2024) — Families impacted by the Los Angeles Police Department’s botched fireworks detonation in South Los Angeles in 2021 are set to receive settlement funds, the Los Angeles City Council decided Tuesday.

 

The Council approved settlements totaling over $21 million for 17 claimants affected by the incident. Some victims received hundreds of thousands of dollars, while others were awarded over $1 million.

 

On June 30, 2021, the LAPD attempted to detonate a cache of fireworks seized from a home on 27th Street. The detonation went wrong, causing an explosion that injured 17 people, damaged 35 homes, and displaced 80 residents.

 

Councilman Curren Price, who represents the impacted area, emphasized the long-lasting trauma endured by the victims and described the settlements as a crucial step toward their healing and stability.

 

Price also requested that families staying at the Level Hotel in downtown Los Angeles be allowed to continue residing there until February 2025. This provision applies to those who have not yet agreed to any LA City council settlement.