Group of teenagers, verbally harassing couples, robbing Ralphs, Southern California
A large group of cycling teenagers were robbed by cell phone cameras, robbed Ralph, released pepper spray at a Los Angeles store, and then turned their attention to a married couple throwing insults and rocks into their cars, both men were terrified.
The incident took place on April 19 at the Ralphs grocery store on Vermont Street and Adams Street near the UCLA campus.
One victim, Ryan Benson, told Ktla’s Sandra Mitchell that he and his husband were scared and felt trapped in the vehicle as the situation escalated.
“Say ‘Are you gay?’ Homophobia, crashing a car, throwing a bottle,” Benson said.
The teenagers reportedly had just rushed to the grocery store, ignoring store safety orders and released pepper spray inside the store.
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A large number of cycling teenagers flocked to Los Angeles, stealing items and emitting pepper spray before physically and verbally harassing a married couple on April 19, 2025. (Ryan Benson)
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A large number of cycling teenagers flocked to Los Angeles, stealing items and emitting pepper spray before physically and verbally harassing a married couple on April 19, 2025. (Ryan Benson)
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A large number of cycling teenagers flocked to Los Angeles, stealing items and emitting pepper spray before physically and verbally harassing a married couple on April 19, 2025. (Ryan Benson)
Benson added: “There is so much pepper spray in the air that everyone in the store is coughing, sneezing, hiding her face under her shirt.”
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This is not the first time that a lot of teen chaos has been released on city streets.
In January, Mercedes drivers in the Zhongweishi County area were swarmed by a group of cycling teenagers who destroyed the car.
Investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department said the team from Ralphs could be associated with other similar crimes, such as kicking and assaulting a person near Beverly Hills in February and robbing 7-11 convenience stores in the city.
As for Benson and his husband, he said the group’s losses to the car would cost thousands of dollars.
“Our windows were broken, the windshield was broken, both doors were sunken, and there were dents with paint damage,” he explained. “I know they were kids, but these were really horrible things and we couldn’t just decide that this didn’t happen.”
While there was no arrest, Benson posted the video on social media and said he believed some of the teenagers involved in the incident had threatened him.
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