Latest news with #TimCaputo
Fox News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
LA news anchor claims people are having 'fun' watching cars burn, riots 'relatively peaceful'
A Los Angeles news station went viral after its news anchor characterized the anti-ICE riots as "just a bunch of people having fun watching cars burn" on Sunday. During its live coverage of the violent demonstrations rocking downtown LA, ABC7 Los Angeles anchor Jory Rand cautioned law enforcement from escalating tensions by interfering. "It could turn very volatile if you move law enforcement in there in the wrong way, and turn what is just a bunch of people having fun watching cars burn into a massive confrontation and altercation between officers and demonstrators," he said. Correspondent Tim Caputo, who was reporting live from the scene, also warned about the "fine line" police had to walk to keep the peace but not "provoke" the crowd. "It's tough because their presence alone is sometimes agitating the crowd. The police presence, the flashbangs, the tear gas, those are provoking the crowd to fire back, but it's tough because police are not part of the immigration," he said. Caputo added that it was a "nuanced issue" but violence was "not OK" no matter what your cause is. Violence erupted on the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Friday night in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Vehicles were set ablaze, rioters threw objects at police from a freeway overpass and smashed the windows at the LAPD headquarters. During their live coverage Sunday, both Rand and Caputo emphasized the violence was limited to just a handful of agitators and not reflective of the crowd of protesters at large. Caputo said he wouldn't call the situation a "riot" even though President Donald Trump used the term. "I don't know that I would characterize it [as a riot]," he said. "The vast majority are people taking videos, people waving flags, people walking around, people wanting to be part of the cause, wanting to have their voices heard, and wanting to show the power of numbers and the power of force…[but]you have these pockets of people who are intentionally causing some issues." "It's tough to describe the crowd as a whole as agitators. I wouldn't even say that, even close to that," Caputo continued. "[I]t doesn't seem like this necessarily encompasses the vast majority of people here, it's just everyone gets caught up in the hoopla." "It's a matter of a couple of people kind of ruining everything for everyone else," Rand confirmed. "What might have been a peaceful demonstration certainly is no longer that, as those cars continue to burn and explode." As more explosions went off in the background, Caputo and his cameraman tried to relocate from the scene. Rand then declared that things "look relatively peaceful right now," if you don't count the cars on fire. "It's hard to say that with three cars burning, things do seem relatively calm minus these cars that have been set on fire," the anchor added. The news coverage drew criticism on social media after account LibsofTikTok shared a clip of Rand's comments. ABC7 Los Angeles did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment. Trump sent 2,000 National Guard troops to the area on Friday to address the violence, which drew criticism from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass. Newsom said Trump had overstepped his boundaries when he deployed the National Guard to help with the anti-ICE riots, claiming "local law enforcement didn't need help."
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Reporter denies there are riots in LA while chaos unfolds behind him
A local TV reporter in Los Angeles questioned whether the city's violent unrest qualified as rioting - even as a fire burned behind him live on the air. ABC7 reporter Tim Caputo insisted that the 'vast majority' of protestors involved in the demonstrations were 'people taking videos [and] people waving flags' during his one-the-ground report. He made the remarks as black smoke billowed into the air behind him and a loud explosion could be heard in the distance. During the segment, ABC7 anchor Jory Rand asked whether those responsible for torching five vehicles were 'a group that splintered off,' 'making it look like it's a lot worse than the situation actually playing out on the ground.' 'That's the quintessential question when you have rallies, demonstrations, riots, if you will,' Caputo replied. 'I wouldn't go as far to call it that. I know president Trump had tweeted about riots and looting - I don't know that I would characterize it that way.' As the broadcast showed aerial images of cars on fire, Caputo directed his cameraman away from rising smoke. The clip was quickly re-shared on social media , earning swift criticism from viewers. 'If you take out the really violent stuff it's relatively peaceful,' one X user joked. 'He thinks we have no eyes to see,' another chimed. 'Is this AI,' a third quipped. The chaos was triggered Friday by immigration raids that resulted in dozens of arrests of what authorities say are illegal migrants and gang members. Police ordered the public to disperse from downtown overnight after an intense day of demonstrations in the region. Around 300 National Guard troops were deployed to the region, spurring anger and fear among many residents. By noon local time on Sunday, hundreds had gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, where Caputo was reporting. Protesters there approached members of the federal agency and were fired upon with control munitions. The group then moved to block traffic on the 101 freeway. The 300 guards called to the crisis have were seen using tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs to control the crowds. President Trump has said the National Guard was necessary because Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democrats have failed to quell recent protests targeting immigration agents.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Woke reporter denies there are riots and looting in LA while chaos unfolds behind him
A local TV reporter in Los Angeles questioned whether the city's violent unrest qualified as rioting - even as a fire burned behind him live on the air. ABC7 reporter Tim Caputo insisted that the 'vast majority' of protestors involved in the demonstrations were 'people taking videos [and] people waving flags' during his one-the-ground report. He made the remarks as black smoke billowed into the air behind him and a loud explosion could be heard in the distance. During the segment, ABC7 anchor Jory Rand asked whether those responsible for torching five vehicles were 'a group that splintered off,' 'mak[ing] it look like it's a lot worse than the situation actually playing out on the ground.' 'That's the quintessential question when you have rallies, demonstrations, riots, if you will,' Caputo replied. 'I wouldn't go as far to call it that. I know president Trump had tweeted about riots and looting - I don't know that I would characterize it that way.' As the broadcast showed aerial images of cars on fire, Caputo directed his cameraman away from rising smoke. 'From what we've seen... the vast majority are people taking videos, people waving flags, people walking around, people wanting to be part of the cause, wanting to have their voices heard, and wanting to show the power of numbers and the power of force,' the reporter said. Caputo went on to say that the majority of protestors were 'people walking around, people wanting to be part of the cause, wanting to have their voices heard, and wanting to show the power of numbers and the power of force' The clip was quickly re-shared on social media, earning swift criticism from viewers. 'If you take out the really violent stuff it's relatively peaceful,' one X user joked. 'He thinks we have no eyes to see,' another chimed. 'Is this AI,' a third quipped. The chaos was triggered Friday by immigration raids that resulted in dozens of arrests of what authorities say are illegal migrants and gang members. Police ordered the public to disperse from downtown overnight after an intense day of demonstrations in the region. Around 300 National Guard troops were deployed to the region, spurring anger and fear among many residents. By noon local time on Sunday, hundreds had gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, where Caputo was reporting. Protesters there approached members of the federal agency and were fired upon with control munitions. Lol @ABC7TimCaputo is like Trump calls it rioting but I wouldn't call it that, just a few cars on fire and explosions, the 'vast majority' of protesters are just taking pictures lololol what!?! — ¡El SooperMexican! ن c137 🦬 (@SooperMexican) June 9, 2025 The group then moved to block traffic on the 101 freeway. The 300 guards called to the crisis have were seen using tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs to control the crowds. President Trump has said the National Guard was necessary because Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democrats have failed to quell recent protests targeting immigration agents. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a staunch Trump ally, endorsed the president's move, doubling down Trump's recent criticisms of California democrats and their cooperation with his orders. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lives in Los Angeles, said the immigration arrests and Guard deployment were designed as part of a 'cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic and division.'
