A popular social media influencer known as “Meatball” livestreamed the furious looting that engulfed Philadelphia’s downtown area overnight, before she was apparently arrested while cheering on the marauders.
Meatball, whose real name is Dayjia Blackwell, shared videos and photos on her Instagram Stories gleefully documenting the mass looting of several businesses, including an Apple store, a Foot Locker, a Lululemon, and a liquor store.
The content creator with nearly 650,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok could be seen laughing, clapping and shouting “Let’s go!” as she witnessed the flight of suspected looters as she drove through the city.
Blackwell later continued filming the foot frenzy, capturing their apparent enthusiasm.
“Tell the police they’re either going to lock me up tonight or they’re going to light up, it’s going to be a movie,” he said at one point in his videos.
Joining a crowd of young people loitering on the street, Blackwell, laughing, exclaimed at one point: “This is what happens when we don’t get justice in this city.”
Dayjia Blackwell, a social media influencer known as “Meatball,” had livestreamed last night’s mass looting event in Philadelphia. Instagram / @dayjiamainpage Blackwell’s video showed young men breaking into the Apple store and emerging with loot. Instagram / @dayjiamainpage Merchandise on the counter of the Apple store that was robbed in Philadelphia. Alejandro A. Alvarez/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP
The influencer’s video showed hordes of looters running into the Apple store near 15th and Chestnut streets and leaving with iPhones and tablets in hand.
“Free iPhones! Free iPhones,” Blackwell shouted, before filming people showing off their stolen electronic devices.
Several smartphones and iPads were seen lying on the ground and being trampled by looters.
Blackwell, laughing, exclaimed at one point: “This is what happens when we don’t get justice in this city.” Instagram / @dayjiamainpage Mannequins destroyed at a retail store in Philadelphia that was looted. Elizabeth Robertson/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP
As the commotion unfolded, Blackwell followed the crowd to the Lululemon store in Rittenhouse Square.
“Oh my god! Oh my god! They came in!” The woman screamed excitedly in the footage, showing looters breaking into the business.
Police then stopped and proceeded to tackle and arrest several people outside the store.
The content creator with nearly 650,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok could be seen laughing, clapping and shouting, “Let’s go!” Instagram / @dayjiamainpageBlackwell made several stops in the video to record the looting. NBC PhiladelphiaAt one point, Blackwell herself was briefly seen holding a glass bottle filled with a brown liquid. Instagram / @dayjiamainpage
“Don’t touch them! Record this! Blackwell shouted as he stood on the opposite side of the street. “That’s why we’re here: because you police officers don’t keep your hands to yourself.”
Blackwell later returned to the car and headed to the next stop of the looting, saying in the video, “Keep it up!”
The livestream then captured a group of men and women looting a liquor store that had been robbed in a shopping plaza. Blackwell herself is briefly seen holding a glass bottle filled with a brown liquid.
People breaking into a liquor store during the night of the vandalism. Elizabeth Robertson/The Philadelphia Inquirer via APA Curaleaf Dispensary that was damaged in the looting. Steven M. Falk/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP The aftermath of a vandalized store in Philadelphia. Alejandro A. Álvarez/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP
Other social media users later shared videos showing Blackwell apparently being detained by police officers.
User drizzydrea_ posted footage of a woman believed to be Blackwell being led away in handcuffs by police.
It was not immediately known if the influencer was formally arrested or charged with a crime.
Philadelphia police outside looted Lululemon store. Alejandro A. Alvarez/The Philadelphia Inquirer via APPPolice officers tackle thieves outside the looted Lululemon store in Rittenhouse Square. Instagram / @dayjiamainpage Police previously said they had made up to 20 arrests in connection with the rampage. @Mile2x/X
The Philadelphia Police Department did not immediately respond to The Post’s requests for confirmation on Wednesday, and Meatball did not respond to messages sent through his social media.
Police previously said they had made up to 20 arrests in connection with the rampage, in which a group of about 100 people, some wearing spooky Halloween masks, looted a number of stores.
Some of the criminals wore Halloween masks. @Mile2x / XIt was unclear whether Blackwell was formally arrested. dayjia homepage / Instagram
According to authorities, at least two firearms were recovered at the crime scene. There was no information about injuries.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn