Downtown Los Angeles came to a standstill Friday afternoon when a U.S. veteran drove his black sedan onto the sidewalk outside City Hall, barricaded himself inside with an oxygen tank, and held police at bay for over two hours—all while displaying a handwritten plea to Donald Trump.
What Happened?
At approximately 4:10 p.m. PT, the driver—a gray-haired older man with a handicap placard hanging from his rearview mirror—mounted the curb at the Spring Street entrance of L.A. City Hall and stopped at the base of the building’s iconic steps .
According to Zach Seidl, spokesperson for Mayor Karen Bass, the vehicle initially appeared to be “spewing smoke,” raising immediate concerns. Witnesses described a surreal scene as officers surrounded the car while drones hovered overhead and a bomb-sniffing dog swept the area .
Handwritten Signs Reveal Emotional Plea
Two notes taped to the dashboard caught the attention of both police and onlookers:
- “Don’t want to hurt nobody”
- “I need ur help D Trump US vet”
The messages, scrawled in marker, suggested the man was in distress rather than posing a deliberate threat. Mayor Bass later described the incident as possibly linked to a mental health crisis .
City-Wide Response
As a precaution, City Hall was evacuated, and nearby Grand Park was cleared by sheriff’s deputies over fears of a potential bomb threat. The LAPD deployed its SWAT team, and bomb squad robots rolled in to inspect the vehicle after the man was taken into custody around 6 p.m. .
Thankfully, no injuries were reported. First responders were praised for their calm, compassionate handling of the situation—especially given the high-profile location and rush-hour timing.
Community Reacts
“It felt like something out of a movie,” said one city employee who watched from a nearby office. Social media lit up with speculation, though officials urged the public not to jump to conclusions before all facts were known.
