(Thechieftainspear) – An unusual and troubling act of vandalism struck downtown Los Angeles over the weekend, as numerous trees were discovered chopped down across several city blocks.
The destruction was first noticed by residents and passersby, with reports emerging on social media throughout the Easter holiday weekend. Despite the widespread damage, the exact time the incident occurred remains unclear. As of now, the Los Angeles Police Department says it has no leads or information regarding the incident, and the city’s Urban Forestry Division has yet to issue a statement.
Online users highlighted multiple locations where the tree-cutting took place. One Reddit post noted that trees between 1st Street and Wilshire Boulevard had been targeted. Over on Instagram, a user shared video clips showing fallen trees at major intersections including Olympic Boulevard and Hope Street, Figueroa Street, Broadway and Cesar Chavez Avenue, and along Grand Avenue near the Wells Fargo Center and 5th Street.
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Images and videos suggest the damage was caused with a chainsaw, as many of the trees had clean cuts—some made close to the ground, others a few feet up the trunk. In several spots, partial cuts left trees barely hanging on by strips of bark.
According to the Los Angeles Times, some of the affected trees were Indian laurel figs, a species known for its drought tolerance and value in urban landscapes.
The motive behind the vandalism is unknown, and there is currently no surveillance footage or eyewitness accounts identifying those responsible.
In a statement, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ office expressed disbelief over the incident, saying:
“That someone would do this is truly beyond comprehension. City public works crews are assessing the damage and we will be making plans to quickly replace these damaged trees. LAPD has opened an investigation into what happened and those responsible must be held accountable.”
City officials have launched an investigation and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
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