Marauding e-bikers in black balaclavas start fight on Hermosa Beach Strand
by Kevin Cody
E-bike riders wearing black balaclavas attacked other e-bike riders on the 1900 block of the Hermosa Beach Strand Sunday afternoon. The fight was broken up by an adult male passerby who wrapped up one of the assailants in the assailant’s own hoodie, and restrained a second assailant as he was about to throw a sucker punch. The passerby, who asked not to be identified, said he stepped in because it was a two-on-one fight.
Alleged assailants cruise the Hermosa Beach Strand. Security camera image.
The teens who were attacked told Hermosa Police they were from Manhattan Beach, and their attackers, who also appeared to be teens, were from Redondo Beach.
A 19th Court resident, who also asked not to be identified, said she was working in her garage when she heard yelling and screaming on The Strand. When she looked out from her garage, she saw a single e-bike rider fleeing down 19th Court, toward Hermosa Avenue, followed by an e-bike with two riders wearing black balaclavas. When the two balaclava-wearing e-bikers came back down 19th Court, she waved them to a stop.
“I read them the riot act about almost getting their asses killed by a car that almost hit them on Hermosa Avenue,” she said. “Luckily, they left peacefully.”
Sunday evening, according to a Manhattan Beach parent, who asked not to be identified, the two groups who fought on The Strand in the afternoon, fought again on the upper level of the 12th Street parking garage. One of the Redondo fighters was taken to the hospital after being hit with a skateboard, according to the parent.
Hermosa Beach Police Public Information Officer Matt Franco said Tuesday that the Hermosa Strand fight is under investigation, and that no arrests have been made.
Manhattan Beach Police Public Information Officer Andy Abreu confirmed Wednesday morning a fight involving teenagers had taken place Sunday evening in the vicinity of 12th Street, and that one of the teens was taken to the hospital with a head injury. An investigation into the fight is ongoing, Abreu said. ER