Riot breaks out at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey
Downey, Calif. – Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, a facility that had recently reopened after the closure of two other juvenile facilities in L.A County, experienced a riot on Friday, resulting in a temporary lockdown. The disturbance arose after seven juveniles assaulted staff members and managed to open an exterior door to their living area. Additionally, they allegedly broke a window in another unit and introduced six additional inmates into the same area.
One 18-year-old inmate briefly escaped by climbing over a wall and crossing onto a nearby golf course. However, he was promptly apprehended and has since been booked as an adult. Following the incident, the remaining 12 youths have been individually placed in rooms under one-on-one supervision at Los Padrinos. To ensure the stability of the facility, bureau chiefs will now be present at every shift to supervise operations. Moreover, all staff members will carry pepper spray until the facility is fully stabilized.
Concerns have been raised by parents regarding the condition of the facility, particularly the lack of air conditioning and outdoor activities for the juveniles. However, officials have stated that the AC issue was resolved a week ago and they are actively working towards reconnecting the kids with their families. With the lifting of the lockdown, visitations are expected to resume.
Eyewitness News spoke with a mother who has a son currently held at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. Frustrated by the situation, she expressed her desire to see her son out of the facility, emphasizing the need for adequate conditions for the juveniles. “I’m going crazy, I want him out of here. I know he did something wrong and he has to pay, but not in this condition, they’re human not animals,” she said.
Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported among the youth or staff members during the riot. The authorities are now focused on ensuring that families are able to reconnect with their children. “Our goal is to ensure families see their youth, we recognize kids need to see families, get visiting back on track by tomorrow,” stated Dalila Alcantara, a bureau chief at the L.A. County Probation Department.