Apple Store Looting, Throwing Fireworks And Other Charges Filed In Connection With LA Unrest

LOS ANGELES, CA — More than two dozen people are currently facing criminal charges in connection with the unrest in Los Angeles County over the last few weeks.

Amongst the new charges filed this week are that against a Wilmington man who officers found with a loaded gun while arresting him for violating a curfew in Downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Prosecutors with the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office say Terrill Tillis, 30, was taken into custody for violating the city-mandated curfew while being out around 12:30 a.m. in the area of Third and Spring streets.

After being detained, officers found Tillis was armed with a loaded firearm that contained 15 rounds in its magazine, according to police.

He has since been charged with a felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon and a misdemeanor count of giving or receiving a large-capacity magazine, according to prosecutors.

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office filed charges against the following people:

• Lynwood resident Antonio DeLaRose, 44, was charged Tuesday with one count of discharging a laser at an aircraft during a protest in San Pedro on Thursday.
• Adam Palermo, 39, faces four count of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and one count each of arson and vandalism. Palermo is accused of throwing a large rock at California Highway Patrol from a freeway overpass, along with an object that he lit on fire, which ignited a CHP SUV.
• William Rubio, 23, faces two counts of assaulting a peace officer and use of a destructive device to injure or destroy. Prosecutors say he threw fireworks at officers.
• Eddie Lee Baldwin, 39, faces one count of second-degree commercial burglary, according to prosecutors. He is accused of breaking into an Apple Store in Downtown Los Angeles with a group of people and looting several items.

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Last week, charges were filed against Long Beach and Paramount residents who are accused of either possessing Molotov cocktails during separate protests.

A Gardena man also faces charges after being accused of providing commercial fireworks to a group of protesters and throwing fireworks at police.

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“While we will always defend the right to peacefully protest, we will not disregard criminal behavior that puts the lives of officers and others at risk or compromises public safety,” Hochman said in a statement Tuesday. “There is a clear and distinct line between lawful expression and unlawful conduct. Our job as prosecutors is to ensure those who engage in violence and destruction are held accountable for their actions.”

As of Tuesday, the LAPD had arrested 575 people since protests began on June 7, including 14 people for looting, the department said in a press release.

Many of the arrests have been for failure to disperse or violating curfew.

The curfew was put in place last week amid unrest over immigration raids in the city. While anti-ICE protests were largely peaceful during the day, violence sometimes erupted at nighttime, which included people looting businesses and clashing with police.

On Tuesday, Mayor Karen Bass ended the nightly curfew.

“The curfew has been an effective tool in helping us maintain public safety in the downtown Los Angeles area and deter those looking to exploit peaceful protests for criminal activity. The LAPD will maintain a strong presence in the area and continue to monitor conditions closely to protect lives, uphold the right to lawful assembly, and safeguard property,” LAPD Chief of Police Jim McDonnell said Tuesday.

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Los Angeles Editor Chris Lindahl contributed to this report.