The skateboarding event descends into violence as crowds set fire to parked cars, throw rocks and bottles and vandalize fire department vehicles in Democratic-run Los Angeles

Chaos reigned at a skateboarding event in Hollywood on Saturday as crowds lit fires, destroyed vehicles and set off fireworks.

F***ing Awesome World Entertainment teamed up with Adidas Skateboarding to host their second annual Skate Jam in Hollywood, which began peacefully with skaters performing stunts over what appeared to be an old LAPD police car.

But around 7:22 p.m., unrest broke out, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said KTLA.

The crowd became increasingly violent, burning trash cans, throwing bottles, setting off fireworks and spraying graffiti on a Los Angeles Fire Department vehicle.

The video shows participants jumping onto the police car as small fires begin to grow. Eventually the car was completely engulfed in flames and photos of the aftermath show it was completely gutted.

Participants jumped onto the vehicle in celebration

The event became turbulent when people started lighting fires

As the fires grew, the crowds in the clouds of smoke became increasingly violent as a person raced a motorcycle into the police car on one of the skate ramps

One participant told this Los Angeles Times that people jumped on the roof of the car cheering and broke the fake windows before setting it on fire.

The Skate Jam began with professional skateboarders such as Nora Vasconcellos, Mark Suciu and Daewon Song performing tricks and competing for prizes.

The competition included various skate obstacles, including a launch ramp above the LAPD police car.

The event, which is open to the public, began at 3:30 p.m. and events began at 5:00 p.m

Later in the day, a video shows the crowd getting loud as the band Dead City Punx begins to perform.

The group begins moshing and erupts into violence as some people begin lighting fireworks.

Through the clouds of smoke, people can be seen surrounding the fire as police helicopters fly overhead.

Eventually, the LAPD and Fire Department arrived on scene to disperse the crowd.

While at the scene, some officers were hit by rocks and bottles thrown from the crowd.

The event started as a skateboarding competition hosted by Adidas Skateboarding and F***ing Awesome Entertainment

After the fire, a charred vehicle was left in the rubble

Authorities declared the gathering unlawful and arrived on the scene in riot gear

Bottles and stones were thrown at police as the crowd dispersed

Graffiti covered the scene and even a Los Angeles Fire Department vehicle was destroyed

The number of LAPD officers peaked in 2009 and is currently at a nearly 30-year low

The city of Los Angeles is still battling persistent crime carried over from the pandemic

The LAPD reports that three unidentified people were arrested and charged with vandalism.

The police force is facing an employment crisis and the number of officers and graduates is at its lowest level in almost 30 years.

At the same time, the city is grappling with increasing homelessness and persistent crime, including mass robberies that swept the city this summer.