COMMOS, Calif. (KTLA) – A parking dispute at the popular Citadel Outlets mall in Commerce turned into a violent, all-out brawl and robbery Wednesday that was captured on cell phone cameras.
Authorities confirmed to KTLA that just after 5 p.m., Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to reports of a fight in the parking lot of 100 Citadel Drive.
The victims, Patricia Cupa and her 19-year-old daughter Natalie Martinez, said the encounter began after returning a sweater at the outlet store.
In the parking lot, the mother and daughter said they drove around for a long time looking for a parking spot. When they finally found an opening, it was partially blocked by the open door of another car.
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On December 18, 2024, a parking dispute at the Citadel Outlets turned into a violent fight and robbery.
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On December 18, 2024, a parking dispute at the Citadel Outlets turned into a violent fight and robbery.
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On December 18, 2024, a parking dispute at the Citadel Outlets turned into a violent fight and robbery.
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On December 18, 2024, a parking dispute at the Citadel Outlets turned into a violent fight and robbery.
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On December 18, 2024, a parking dispute at the Citadel Outlets turned into a violent fight and robbery.
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On December 18, 2024, a parking dispute at the Citadel Outlets turned into a violent fight and robbery.
Patricia said she and Natalie, who was driving the car, waited patiently for several minutes until someone closed the door, and then Natalie finally honked her horn and asked a passenger in the car if she could close the door.
They said when they finally pulled up to the scene and got out, five people, four women and one man, got out and things quickly escalated into insults, obscenities, drinks being thrown at them, racist comments and then a violent physical altercation.
“I was really upset,” Patricia said of the violence. “I couldn’t believe what was happening.”
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Video of the incident obtained by KTLA shows Natalie being assaulted by at least two people and a third person grabbing her feet and pulling her from between the two cars, causing her to fall to the ground.
When she got back to her feet, the violence continued and she and the other woman were punched several more times.
“I tried to fight back and that’s all I could do,” the 19-year-old said. “Your instincts kick in.”
Natalie suffered cuts, bumps and bruises and a busted lip.
During the melee, a person in another vehicle is seen in the video opening the driver’s side door of the victim’s Volkswagen SUV. Witnesses said the man reportedly grabbed a wallet from the vehicle and returned to the trunk.
Shortly after, he is also seen moving to the passenger side of the Volkswagen before quickly returning to where the fight took place.
Patricia told KTLA that she not only had her driver’s license and credit card in her wallet, but also $3,000 in cash, which she would use to pay rent, bills and buy some Christmas gifts.
It was unclear whether the men accused in the attack were still at the scene when officers arrived, but investigators obtained a license plate number from video provided by Citadel Outlets security.
No arrests appear to have been made, although the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the matter is under investigation.
KTLA’s Chris Wolfe contributed to this Commerce Department report.
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