Long Beach : 28 Claims in ‘Rap’ Riot

Twenty-eight people have filed claims against Long Beach for the Aug. 17 “rap” concert at the Long Beach Arena which ended in a riot, injuring about 40 people.

The claims, each of which seeks between $2,000 and $3 million in damages, have been rejected by the city and forwarded to the arena’s booking agent, Facilities Management Inc. of Southern California. The claimants now have six months to file suit against the city.

The riot took place after rival youth gangs battled inside the jammed, 14,000-seat arena. More than 100 police officers had to be summoned to quell the disturbance. Youths broke furniture for weapons, then beat and robbed others indiscriminately. The riot prompted Facilities Management to adopt a policy against booking at the arena “any attraction whose patrons have caused or who have a propensity to cause injury to other persons.”